Cushing’s disease

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dc.contributor.other University of Pretoria. Faculty of Veterinary Science. Dept. of Companion Animal Clinical Studies
dc.contributor.upauthor Van Schoor, Mirinda
dc.date.accessioned 2010-11-03T10:37:13Z
dc.date.available 2010-11-03T10:37:13Z
dc.date.created 2007
dc.date.issued 2010-11-03T10:37:13Z
dc.description Metadata assigned by Dr. M. van Schoor, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Companion Animal Clinical Studies en
dc.description.abstract PHOTOS 1-8: Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is classified as pituitary dependent, adrenocorticol dependent or iatrogenic. Pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism is usually caused by a functional adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreting pituitary tumour. Excessive secretion of ACTH leads to bilateral adrenocorticol hyperplasia as well as excess cortisol secretion from the adrenal cortex. The normal feedback inhibition of ACTH by cortisol is absent, exacerbating the condition. Cushing’s disease typically develops in dogs over six years of age. Female dogs are more commonly diagnosed with adrenocorticol tumours that can also cause spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism. Adrenocorticol tumours causing hyperadrenocorticism secrete excessive amounts of cortisol irrespective of pituitary control. Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism is usually due to excessive administration of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids suppress circulating plasma ACTH concentrations leading to bilateral adrenocortical atrophy. PHOTOS 1-3, 6-7: Clinical signs of Cushing’s disease include ascites (pot belly), polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, panting, muscle weakness and lethargy. Hyperadrenocorticism causes insulin resistance which can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, dogs with Cushing's disease often develop skin conditions such as comedomes, hyperpigmentation and seborrhea. PHOTOS 4-7: Endocrine alopecia causes the hair follicles to become atrophic, hyperpigmentation of skin, thinning of skin and hair loss. PHOTO 8: Mitotane is the medication of choice in dogs suffering from Cushing’s disease. Moderate doses selectively destroy glucocorticoid secreting cells of the adrenal cortex. It has several side effects however, most of which are associated with mineralcorticoids and glucocorticoid deficiencies. l-Deprenyl increases dopaminergic tone to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis thus decreasing pituitary ACTH secretion. Another medication, ketoconazole, inhibits the enzymes that are responsible for cortisol synthesis and can be used for dogs that are unable to tolerate mitotane. Trilostane has also been shown to be very effective in treating hyperadrenocorticism in dogs and may have fewer adverse effects that mitotane. Adrenal gland tumours can be treated by unilateral or bilateral adrenalectomy or radiation therapy. en
dc.description.abstract REFERENCES: PHOTOS 1-7: Nelson, RW & Couto, CG (eds) 2009, ‘Small animal internal medicine’, 3rd ed, Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis, pp.810-812. PHOTO 8: 1. Tilley, LP & Smith, FWK 2004, ‘The 5-minute veterinary consult: canine and feline’, 3rd ed, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp. 602-604. 2. Neiger, R, Ramsey, I, O’Connor, J, Hurley, KJ & Moony, CT 2002, ‘Trilostane treatment of 78 dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism’, The Veterinary Record, vol.150, no. 26, pp. 799-804. 3. Morgan, RV 2008 ‘Handbook of small animal practice’, 5th ed, Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, pp. 481-484. en
dc.format.extent 8 colour photos en
dc.format.medium JPEG en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/15148
dc.relation.ispartofseries Veterinary critical care slide collection (Dr M. van Schoor) en
dc.rights © Dr Mirinda van Schoor, University of Pretoria. Dept. of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Original and digital). Provided for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the original copyright holder. Any attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of copyright laws and is subject to criminal prosecution. Please contact the collection administrator for copyright issues. en
dc.subject Veterinary intensive care en
dc.subject Hyperadrenocorticism en
dc.subject Adrenal glands en
dc.subject Adrenocorticotropic hormone en
dc.subject Cortisol en
dc.subject Glucocorticoids en
dc.subject Ascites en
dc.subject Diabetes mellitus en
dc.subject Alopecia en
dc.subject Mitotane en
dc.subject Trilostane en
dc.subject Adrenalectomy en
dc.subject Metabolic disorders en
dc.subject Endocrine glands -- Diseases en
dc.subject.lcsh Veterinary critical care en
dc.subject.lcsh Veterinary medicine -- South Africa en
dc.subject.lcsh Veterinary emergencies en
dc.subject.lcsh ACTH en_ZA
dc.title Cushing’s disease en
dc.type Still Image en


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