Hepatotoxicity of stanozolol in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine hepatotoxicity of stanozolol in cats and to identify clinicopathologic and histopathologic abnormalities in cats with stanozolol-induced hepatotoxicosis.


METHODS
Clinical trial and case series.


METHODS
12 healthy cats, 6 cats with chronic renal failure, and 3 cats with gingivitis and stomatitis.


METHODS
Healthy cats and cats with renal failure were treated with stanozolol (25 mg, i.m., on the first day, then 2 mg, p.o., q 12 h) for 4 weeks. Cats with gingivitis were treated with stanozolol at a dosage of 1 mg, p.o., every 24 hours.


RESULTS
Most healthy cats and cats with renal failure developed marked inappetence, groomed less, and were less active within 7 to 10 days after initiation of stanozolol administration. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity was significantly increased in 14 of 18 cats after stanozolol administration, but serum alkaline phosphatase activity was mildly increased in only 3. Four cats with serum ALT activity > 1,000 U/L after only 2 weeks of stanozolol administration had coagulopathies; administration of vitamin K resolved the coagulopathy in 3 of the 4 within 48 hours. All 18 cats survived, and hepatic enzyme activities were normal in all cats tested more than 4 weeks after stanozolol administration was discontinued. Two of the 3 cats with gingivitis developed evidence of severe hepatic failure 2 to 3 months after initiation of stanozolol treatment; both cats developed coagulopathies. Histologic evaluation of hepatic biopsy specimens from 5 cats revealed diffuse hepatic lipidosis and cholestasis without evidence of hepatocellular necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that stanozolol is hepatotoxic in cats.
Harkin
K R
KR
Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-5606, USA.
Cowan
L A
LA
Andrews
G A
GA
Basaraba
R J
RJ
Fischer
J R
JR
DeBowes
L J
LJ
Roush
J K
JK
Guglielmino
M L
ML
Kirk
C A
CA
D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D013197:Stanozolol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013197:Stanozolol