Febrile neutropenia in cats treated with chemotherapy.
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, potential causative agents, treatment and outcome of febrile neutropenia (FN) in chemotherapy-treated cats. Medical records from eight institutions were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 22 FN events in 20 cats were evaluated. Lymphoma was the most common cancer diagnosis; lomustine and vinca alkaloids were the most frequently implicated causative agents. Presenting clinical signs included decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea. Median body temperature and absolute neutrophil count at presentation were 104.1 °F; 40 °C (range: 103.1-105.1 °F; 39.5-40.6 °C) and 246 mL-1(range: 0-1600 mL-1), respectively. Median number of days between chemotherapy administration and FN onset was 5 (range: 4-25 days). All but one cat were treated with intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics. Fevers resolved in all cases and absolute neutrophil counts returned to normal in 19 cats. Clinical presentation of cats with FN appears similar to that of dogs.
Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
J
J
Pierro
Department of Clinical Studies, Oncology, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
E
E
Krick
Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
A
A
Flory
Georgia Veterinary Specialists, Atlanta, GA, USA.
R
R
Regan
Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center, Middletown, CT, USA.
C
C
DeRegis
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
B
B
Boudreaux
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
L
L
Barber
Canada West Veterinary Specialists, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
D
D
Saam
Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
C
C
Saba
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D064147:Febrile Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008130:Lomustine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; D008130:Lomustine
chemotherapy; clinical pathology; haematology; oncology; small animal