Cabergoline treatment in cats with diabetes mellitus and hypersomatotropism

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2022-12, Vol.24 (12), p.1238-1244
• Main Authors: Miceli, Diego D, García, Jorge D, Pompili, Gustavo A, Rey Amunategui, Juan P, Ferraris, Sergio, Pignataro, Omar P, Guitelman, Mirtha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cabergoline - therapeutic use; Cat Diseases - drug therapy; Cats; Diabetes Mellitus - veterinary; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Original; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X221074924

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cabergoline to control hypersomatotropism (HST) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in cats. Methods This was a prospective cohort study. Twenty-three cats with HST and concurrent DM were enrolled. Cats received a dose of 10 μg/kg cabergoline q48h PO for 6 months. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and fructosamine concentrations, insulin dose and Insulin Resistance Index (IRI) were measured at the time of diagnosis of HST and at the start of cabergoline treatment (t0), and 3 months (t1) and 6 months (t2) during cabergoline treatment. Results A decrease and normalization of serum IGF-1 concentration was observed in 35% and 26% of cats, respectively. Median IGF-1 (t0: 1350 ng/ml [range 832–1501]; t1: 1284 ng/ml [range 365–1501]; t2: 1240 ng/ml [range 263–1501]; P = 0.016) decreased significantly. Twelve cats underwent diagnostic imaging of the pituitary area. The median pituitary height at t0 of cats that experienced an IGF-1 reduction (n = 5/12) was significantly lower compared with those that did not experience an IGF-1 reduction (n = 7/12) (3.2 mm [range 3.1–3.7] vs 6 mm [range 3.5–9.5]; P = 0.011). Median fructosamine (t0: 628 µmol/l [range 400–963]; t1: 404 µmol/l [range 249–780]; t2: 400 µmol/l [range 260–815]; P