Suspected phenobarbital-induced fever in a cat

A 3-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat developed a fever 1 week after starting the anticonvulsant phenobarbital. A diagnostic work-up for seizures and subsequent onset of fever of unknown origin, consisting of MRI of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and infectious disease testing,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:JFMS open reports 2019, Vol.5 (1), p.2055116919830214
Main Authors: Djani, Dylan M, Draper, William E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anticonvulsant
Case Report
drug reaction
Fever
hypersensitivity
Phenobarbital
Veterinary medicine
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Summary:A 3-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat developed a fever 1 week after starting the anticonvulsant phenobarbital. A diagnostic work-up for seizures and subsequent onset of fever of unknown origin, consisting of MRI of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and infectious disease testing, was unremarkable. The cat was switched from phenobarbital onto pregabalin with complete resolution of the fever within 24 h, consistent with a drug-induced fever following phenobarbital administration. While anticonvulsant hypersensitivities have been reported and studied in veterinary medicine, phenobarbital-induced fever outside of the context of systemic clinical signs has not been documented in the veterinary scientific literature. Drug-induced fever secondary to anticonvulsants should be considered in patients that develop a fever after starting anticonvulsant therapy with an unrewarding diagnostic work-up for fever of unknown origin.
ISSN:2055-1169
2055-1169
DOI:10.1177/2055116919830214