title: Plasma ACTH precursors in cats with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) in cats is challenging because there is no specific diagnostic test.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The determination of plasma ACTH precursor (POMC and pro-ACTH) concentration might facilitate the diagnosis of PDH in cats. The aim of the study was to evaluate prospectively the plasma concentrations of ACTH precursors in a small cohort of cats with PDH and to estimate the value of this approach for diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of cats were included: group 1 (cats with PDH), group 2 (cats with diabetes mellitus but not hyperadrenocorticism (HAC)), group 3 (cats with diabetes mellitus and confirmed acromegaly but not HAC), and group 4 (healthy cats).
  
  
  METHODS
  PDH diagnosis was based on clinical data, low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST), and adrenal and pituitary gland computed tomography (CT) scan. For groups 2, 3, and 4, hyperadrenocorticism was excluded by LDDST or urine cortisol:creatinine ratio (UCCR). An immunoluminometric assay was used to determine plasma concentrations of ACTH precursors in the 4 groups of cats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 contained 9 cats (enlarged pituitary gland in 7/9). Plasma ACTH precursor concentrations ranged from <53 to >1010 pmol/L with 8/9 concentrations ≥ 229 pmol/L. Groups 2, 3, and 4 included 13, 7, and 13 cats, respectively. Plasma ACTH precursor concentrations ranged from <53 to 96 pmol/L in group 2, <53 to 72 pmol/L in group 3, and <53 to 99 pmol/L in group 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High plasma concentration of ACTH precursors in cats (>100 pmol/L) is highly suggestive of PDH.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benchekroun
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Fornel-Thibaud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubord
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dossin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fracassi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rannou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maurey-Guenec
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daminet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D002415:Cats; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone