Cluster of cases of congenital feline goitrous hypothyroidism in a single hospital

Medical Management of Dental Abnormalities Related to Congenital Hypothyroidism in a Cat

A 5-month-old intact male domestic shorthair cat presenting for routine vaccinations was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. His primary presenting symptom was incomplete dentition with delayed dental eruption. Congenital hypothyroidism was confirmed by baseline thyroxine (T4), free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone testing. The cat was treated with oral thyroid hormone supplementation and 16 weeks after initiation of therapy the cat was clinically normal with age-appropriate dentition. No surgical intervention was necessary to achieve normal dental eruption.

Orthodontic treatment combined with 3D printing guide plate implant restoration for edentulism and its influence on mastication and phonic function

BACKGROUND

Dentition defect, a common clinical oral disease developed in humans, not only causes masticatory dysfunction and articulation difficulties but also affects facial appearance and increases the burden on the intestinal tract. Restorative treatment is the primary option for this disease. However, traditional restorations have many drawbacks, such as mismatch with the body, low reliability, and incomplete occlusal function recovery.

AIM

to analyze the efficacy of orthodontics combined with 3D printing guide plate implant restoration in treating patients with dentition defects and its influence on masticatory and phonic functions.

METHODS

A prospective study was carried out in 86 patients with dentition defects who received implant prosthesis after orthodontic treatment in our hospital between January 2018 and January 2019. Those patients were divided into a control group and an intervention group with 43 patients in each group using a random number table. The control group received traditional implant restoration, whereas the intervention group received 3D printing guide plate implant restoration. Treatment outcomes, cosmetic appearance, dental function, implant deviation, and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The overall response rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (95.35% vs 81.40%, χ² = 4.071, P = 0.044). The number of cases with neatly trimmed cosmetic appearance (χ² = 4.497, P = 0.034), complete coverage (χ² = 4.170, P = 0.041), and normal occlusion (χ² = 5.512, P = 0.019) in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group. After treatment, mastication, swallowing, and articulation were significantly improved in both groups. Masticatory (t = 2.980, P = 0.004), swallowing (t = 2.199, P = 0.031), and phonic functions (t = 3.950, P = 0.004) were better in the intervention group than those in the control group. The deviation value and the deviation angle (t = 5.440, P = 0.000) at the top (t = 6.320, P = 0.000) and middle parts of the implants (t = 22.295, P = 0.000) in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group after treatment. Functional limitations, psychosocial and physical pain and discomfort, and total scores decreased in both groups. The functional limitation (t = 2.379, P = 0.020), psychosocial (t = 2.420, P = 0.000), physical pain and discomfort (t = 6.581, P = 0.000), and total scores (t = 2.140, P = 0.035) were lower in the intervention group than those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Orthodontic treatment combined with 3D printing guide plate implant restoration can significantly improve the masticatory and phonic functions, quality of life, and psychological health of patients with dentition defects. Therefore, it is highly recommended in clinic application.

Evaluation of Weight Gain, Clinicopathological and Radiographic Changes after Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Hypothyroidism in Cats

Congenital hypothyroidism is uncommon in cats. This case report describes weight gain, clinicopathological and radiographic changes after early diagnosis and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism in three British shorthair cats’ siblings. Data were assessed at 53 (diagnosis), 83, 185 and 365 days of age. Correlations between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and body weight, levothyroxine dose, total thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were evaluated. The body weights of the congenital hypothyroid kittens were compared with those of their two healthy siblings and British shorthair kittens of the same age. At diagnosis, the congenital hypothyroid kittens showed a significantly lower body weight compared to the healthy siblings (p = 0.03). After diagnosis, oral levothyroxine supplementation was started. The difference in body weight was no longer observed after one month of treatment. The clinical signs, clinicopathological and radiographic abnormalities ameliorated after one month of treatment. IGF-1 concentration was significantly positively correlated with body weight (rs = 0.80, p < 0.002). In conclusion, resolution of the clinical signs, achieving a consistent within-breed weight, and improvement of the clinicopathological and radiographic parameters demonstrated the importance of the early diagnosis and treatment of feline congenital hypothyroidism.

Association of recessive c.430G>A (p.(Gly144Arg)) thyroid peroxidase variant with primary congenital hypothyroidism in cats

BACKGROUND

Primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a rare endocrine disorder in cats with a largely unknown genetic cause.

OBJECTIVES

Describe the clinical presentation of CH in 11 affected cats and identify the causal genetic variant.

ANIMALS

Eleven CH-cats from 10 unrelated families, 11 CH-free family members, 21 unrelated CH-free cats, and 155 unrelated nondiagnosed cats from different breeds.

METHODS

Case control study of CH-cats and their siblings (2019-2021). Diagnosis was based on low to low-normal serum thyroxine (T4) concentrations, high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations and clinical signs compatible with CH. We identified the causal variant using Sanger sequencing, genotyping via PCR-RFLP and variant interpretation using ACMG/AMP guidelines.

RESULTS

All CH-cats (5 weeks-8 years) had disproportionate dwarfism. A goiter was not palpable in all. Thyroid scintigraphy with radiopertechnetate showed abnormally high uptake by thyroid glands, whereas scintigraphy with radioiodine showed abnormally low uptake, compatible with a defect in iodine organification by thyroid peroxidase (TPO). All cases were homozygous for TPO variant XM_006930524.4:c.430G>A(p.(Gly144Arg)), while none of the CH-free cats were. All sampled parents were heterozygous for this recessive variant. This variant was found in 15 cat breeds with an estimated allele frequency of 9%.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Disproportionate dwarfism, abnormally high TSH and abnormally low to low-normal T4 concentrations are diagnostic for CH in cats. All cases had dyshormonogenesis demonstrated by thyroid scintigraphy. This novel TPO missense variant (not described in humans) causes CH in cats and awareness of it can assist in diagnosis and breeding.

Case Report: Human Recombinant Growth Hormone Therapy in a DSH Cat Presented With Dwarfism

A 6-month-old kitten, male, domestic shorthair cat was presented with dwarfism, ocular and nasal discharge, and Ascaris infestation. Congenital hyposomatotropism was diagnosed on the basis of serum level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I). The cat was treated with human recombinant growth hormone for 9 weeks. After that, his liver enzymes became elevated, and the therapy was discontinued. His IGF-I levels were normal at the end of the therapy. Normal IGF-I was present 3 months after discontinuation of therapy with human recombinant growth hormone and even half a year after the discontinuation. All other comorbidities were addressed with the therapy. The cat is now the size of normal cats, living with the first author.