title: Successful Treatment of Suspected Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Mealy Amazon Parrot (Amazona farinose).
abstract: A 25-year-old, male mealy Amazon parrot (Amazona farinose) with a history of polycythemia, hepatomegaly, and epistaxis was evaluated for progressive lethargy and anorexia. Clinical laboratory testing revealed severe polycythemia (71%), hypophosphatemia (1.6 mg/dL), and mild hypokalemia (2.8 mEq/L). Radiographs showed marked hepatomegaly and loss of air sac space. Despite supportive treatments, the bird's condition deteriorated, and it developed ataxia, was unable to fly, and became oxygen dependent. An echocardiogram, including an air bubble study, revealed a right-to-left atrial shunt and presumed pulmonary arterial hypertension. The bird was started on periodic phlebotomy (5-10 mL/kg q6wk) to reduce packed cell volume and sildenafil citrate (2.5 mg/kg PO q8h) for treatment of suspected pulmonary arterial hypertension. One week later, the patient was weaned off oxygen, and 24 days after initial presentation, the parrot was returned to its outdoor exhibit. Intermittent periods of increased respiratory rate and effort have been reported but have resolved without additional treatments. Epistaxis, once common in this bird, has not been noted since initiating treatment with sildenafil citrate 15 months ago.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burgdorf-Moisuk
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Raymund F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wack
mesh_terms: D046708:Amazona; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
keywords: Amazona farinose; avian; mealy Amazon parrot; polycythemia; pulmonary arterial hypertension; right-to-left shunt; sildenafil citrate