Cabergoline treatment for feline hypersomatotropism

DIEGO D MICELI; JORGE D GARCÍA; ARIAS, ELBER SOLER; VIDAL, PATRICIA N.; GUSTAVO A POMPILI; JUAN P REY AMUNATEGUI; CASTILLO VA

Congreso; ECVIM-2021; 2021

Spontaneous hypersomatotropism is a chronic metabolic disease caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone. Hypersomatotropism is characterised by presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), which sometimes is insulin-resistant. Cabergoline is a long-acting dopamine agonist, with a high affinity for dopamine receptor 2 (D2R). The expression of D2R has been demonstrated in pituitary gland of cats with hypersomatotropism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cabergoline to control DM and hypersomatotropism. In this prospective study, 25 cats with hypersomatotropism were included. Cats were distributed into two groups: diabetic cats (n=19) and non-diabetic cats (n=6). The diagnosis of hypersomatotropism was made according to serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and MRI. Cats received an oral dose of cabergoline (10 μg/Kg every 48 hours) for 6 months. Serum IGF-1 and fructosamine concentrations were measured at the time of diagnosis of hypersomatotropism, 3 and 6 months of cabergoline treatment. Periodic clinical controls (blood glucose curves and intense monitoring) were carried out to determine insulin requirements. Statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon test, expressed as median and ranges (p