title: Lack of association between clinical signs and laboratory parameters in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism before and during trilostane treatment.
abstract: Trilostane therapy, the treatment of choice for pituitary- dependent hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) in dogs, is monitored by assessing resolution of clinical signs and measuring adrenocortical reserve capacity with an ACTH-stimulation test. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate agreement between clinical signs reported by owners and cortisol or ACTH concentrations before and during trilostane therapy (starting dose 1-2 mg/kg once daily). A questionnaire on signs of HAC was used and a clinical score calculated as the sum of the 9 questions. Eighteen questionnaires at diagnosis and 97 during therapy were filled out by owners of 32 dogs. An ACTH-stimulation test was performed at each reevaluation. There were weak correlations between abdominal girth, appetite or weight gain and cortisol concentrations during therapy. However, the clinical score did not correlate with cortisol or cACTH values. In 50% of dogs, trilostane application had to be changed from once daily to twice daily during the study. Clinical signs reported by owners matched poorly with cortisol or cACTH concentrations at any time point. If low-dose trilostane is used, treatment frequency often has to be increased.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Boretti
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holzthüm
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sieber-Ruckstuhl
mesh_terms: D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C009954:trilostane; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: ACTH-stimulation
  test; Fragebogen; Hund; Kortiosl; canine; cortisol; medical therapy; medikamentelle Therapie,
  ACTH-Stimulationstest; questionnaire