Potassium-aggravated muscle stiffness in 12 cats
2011
Kiesewetter, Iris S. | Tipold, Andrea | Baumgartner, Wolfgang | Schenk, Henning C.
Case Description—12 European shorthair cats (6 males and 6 females; age range, 2 months to 3 years) from 1 household were evaluated for clinical signs of recurrent and progressive muscle spasticity. Genetic relationships among the cats were suspected but were not known. Clinical Findings—Physical examination of all cats revealed a thin to mildly emaciated body condition and signs of suppurative rhinitis. Results of neurologic evaluations revealed no abnormalities in any cats at rest, but exercise- and stress-induced episodes of muscle spasticity were observed. Results of hematologic (7/12 cats) and CSF (4) analysis, diagnostic imaging (including radiography [7] and magnetic resonance imaging [4]), electromyography (4), motor nerve conduction tests (4), screening for metabolic storage diseases (4), provocation tests via exercise in a cold (4°C [39.2°F]) environment (7), and gross pathological and histologic examination (5) revealed no abnormalities that could potentially explain the clinical signs. However, consumption of a potassium-enriched diet resulted in severe aggravation of clinical signs in 7 of 7 cats, leading to a diagnosis of potassium-aggravated muscle stiffness. Treatment and Outcome—5 cats were euthanized after initial examination because of poor physical condition and severe clinical signs. Spasticity in the 7 remaining cats was improved during a 6-week follow-up period as they reduced their own activity. Further investigation and treatment were declined. Clinical Relevance—Channelopathies are rarely recognized diseases in domestic animals. In addition to conventional diagnostic evaluation methods, provocation tests in a clinical environment can be used in the assessment of channelopathies.
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