Premium
Febrile neutropenia in cats treated with chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Pierro J.,
Krick E.,
Flory A.,
Regan R.,
DeRegis C.,
Boudreaux B.,
Barber L.,
Saam D.,
Saba C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
veterinary and comparative oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1476-5829
pISSN - 1476-5810
DOI - 10.1111/vco.12198
Subject(s) - medicine , lethargy , cats , absolute neutrophil count , lomustine , neutropenia , vinca , chemotherapy , vomiting , gastroenterology , surgery , vincristine , pharmacology , cyclophosphamide
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, potential causative agents, treatment and outcome of febrile neutropenia ( FN ) in chemotherapy‐treated cats. Medical records from eight institutions were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 22 FN events in 20 cats were evaluated. Lymphoma was the most common cancer diagnosis; lomustine and vinca alkaloids were the most frequently implicated causative agents. Presenting clinical signs included decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea. Median body temperature and absolute neutrophil count at presentation were 104.1 °F; 40 °C (range: 103.1–105.1 °F; 39.5–40.6 °C) and 246 mL ‐1 (range: 0–1600 mL ‐1 ), respectively. Median number of days between chemotherapy administration and FN onset was 5 (range: 4–25 days). All but one cat were treated with intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics. Fevers resolved in all cases and absolute neutrophil counts returned to normal in 19 cats. Clinical presentation of cats with FN appears similar to that of dogs.