title: Serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations before and after suppression with fludrocortisone in cats: a pilot study.
abstract: Primary hyperaldosteronism is an increasingly recognized syndrome in cats, and diagnosis can be difficult. A potential diagnostic method has been reported, utilizing oral fludrocortisone administered twice daily for 4 days followed by collection of urine. In the current study, we sought to determine if blood sampling and a shorter dosing period would provide a possible means to test for primary hyperaldosteronism. Also, cortisol concentrations were measured to assess the potential of fludrocortisone to act as a glucocorticoid in cats. In phase I, 8 healthy laboratory cats were studied in a placebo-controlled, crossover design. Serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations were measured before and on the second, third, and fourth day of treatment and compared within groups. In phase II, based on the results obtained in phase I, 8 healthy client-owned cats were administered 3 doses of fludrocortisone or placebo. Serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations were compared before and after treatment within groups. In both phases, serum aldosterone and cortisol concentrations were significantly suppressed in fludrocortisone-treated cats. Thus, it was determined that oral administration of fludrocortisone causes suppression of serum aldosterone in healthy adult cats after only 3 doses. Further research is needed to determine the effects of oral fludrocortisone in cats with primary hyperaldosteronism and cats with other disorders causing hypertension and/or hypokalemia to determine if this protocol can be used as a tool for the definitive diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal).
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal) behreen@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: Ellen N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Behrend
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal).
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal).
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Refsal
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal).
authors.forename: Aime
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Sciences (Matsuda, Behrend, Johnson, Lee), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALAnatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (Kemppainen), College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, ALDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Refsal).
authors.forename: Hollie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D002415:Cats; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000450:Aldosterone; D005438:Fludrocortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cats; cortisol; fludrocortisone; hyperaldosteronism; hypertension; hypokalemia