Theodore Acro Results

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug: Although not a great result, you now have answers and can start thinking about treatments.

Recent research (2015) shows about 25% of diabetic cats have acromegaly and not all of them are higher doses. I've seen suggestions that if a cat is still unregulated after six months, the acro testing should be done. Did by any chance the vet ask for IAA (insulin auto antibody) testing at MSU too? It's a non uncommon second condition kitties can have, Neko had both.

Our acro kitties are still very loveable and with help can still live a good life for several years. The first thing I would do is talk to your vet about cabergoline treatment. There are other options (stereostatic radiation therapy which Neko had) and pituitary removal surgery but they are quite expensive in comparison and involve travel. New York is the closest place to you that does the surgery, not sure about the SRT. Cabergoline is a medication that most people get compounded into liquid and give daily. You might want to look at the copy of the paper attached to this thread, and possibly pass it onto your vet:
New paper on: Cabergoline treatment in cats with diabetes mellitus and hypersomatotropism

We have several kitties here on cabergoline now. It usually reduces the amount of insulin needed and helps with any acro side effects too. We've had 4-5 cats actually go into remission on it. Cats with smaller tumours tend to do better. With Theo's relatively small insulin dose, that could be in his favour.

Acromegaly is caused by a benign pituitary tumour and side effects are caused by it putting out excess growth hormone that it turn causes excess IGF-1 to be output. Results of excess growth hormone include growth in soft tissue, bony structures and organs. Side effects can include proteinuria as a not uncommon acro symptom. Do keep a close eye on how his kidneys are doing. Symptoms often include changes in breathing sounds, some cats snore more. Neko did not have those. She did have soft tissue growth in her gums and tear duct being blocked, she also had quite bad arthritis from the bony growths.

You probably have a million questions, I know I did at this point. Let us know how we can help.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug: Although not a great result, you now have answers and can start thinking about treatments.

Recent research (2015) shows about 25% of diabetic cats have acromegaly and not all of them are higher doses. I've seen suggestions that if a cat is still unregulated after six months, the acro testing should be done. Did by any chance the vet ask for IAA (insulin auto antibody) testing at MSU too? It's a non uncommon second condition kitties can have, Neko had both.

Our acro kitties are still very loveable and with help can still live a good life for several years. The first thing I would do is talk to your vet about cabergoline treatment. There are other options (stereostatic radiation therapy which Neko had) and pituitary removal surgery but they are quite expensive in comparison and involve travel. New York is the closest place to you that does the surgery, not sure about the SRT. Cabergoline is a medication that most people get compounded into liquid and give daily. You might want to look at the copy of the paper attached to this thread, and possibly pass it onto your vet:
New paper on: Cabergoline treatment in cats with diabetes mellitus and hypersomatotropism

We have several kitties here on cabergoline now. It usually reduces the amount of insulin needed and helps with any acro side effects too. We've had 4-5 cats actually go into remission on it. Cats with smaller tumours tend to do better. With Theo's relatively small insulin dose, that could be in his favour.

Acromegaly is caused by a benign pituitary tumour and side effects are caused by it putting out excess growth hormone that it turn causes excess IGF-1 to be output. Results of excess growth hormone include growth in soft tissue, bony structures and organs. Side effects can include proteinuria as a not uncommon acro symptom. Do keep a close eye on how his kidneys are doing. Symptoms often include changes in breathing sounds, some cats snore more. Neko did not have those. She did have soft tissue growth in her gums and tear duct being blocked, she also had quite bad arthritis from the bony growths.

You probably have a million questions, I know I did at this point. Let us know how we can help.
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@Wendy&Neko Hi Wendy, I apologize the vet sent this stating he tested negative? Thank you for the information, it's all very helpful
 
Sorry also worth mentioning it doesn't look like she did IAA (insulin auto antibody), it says they are sending interpretation at the bottom in 1-10 days
 
IAA results don't typically come back the same day as IGF-1 results.

Thanks for pointing out the interpretation. I kept reading and they've just recently changed the units as well to be more in line with what they do in Europe. It confused me because they haven't changed the reference range units beside the results. In Europe, which uses ng/ml when measuring IGF-1, it was recently lowered from positive above 1000 to positive above 665. Which still puts him in negative range. Sorry about that. Good to know that MSU has changed to the same units used world wide - that has confused more than one vet who was reading papers from Europe where more research has been done on acromegaly.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
IAA results don't typically come back the same day as IGF-1 results.

Thanks for pointing out the interpretation. I kept reading and they've just recently changed the units as well to be more in line with what they do in Europe. It confused me because they haven't changed the reference range units beside the results. In Europe, which uses ng/ml when measuring IGF-1, it was recently lowered from positive above 1000 to positive above 665. Which still puts him in negative range. Sorry about that. Good to know that MSU has changed to the same units used world wide - that has confused more than one vet who was reading papers from Europe where more research has been done on acromegaly.
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I found the results very confusing as well. The reference would have been better updated beside the result vs the notes below. Thank you for your help @Wendy&Neko
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
The way that is written with the reference range is confusing, but I am really happy that his Acro testing was negative. REALLY happy!
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Me too! I spoiled him with PureBites Chicken today his favourite :) We had a little happy dance but it still means we got to figure out what's going on that I cannot seem to get him controlled.
 
NadineTheodore said:
Me too! I spoiled him with PureBites Chicken today his favourite :) We had a little happy dance but it still means we got to figure out what's going on that I cannot seem to get him controlled.
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Sometimes you just have to keep chasing better numbers while following the protocols until you get his best dose. And you said you didn’t get the IAA results yet, right?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
It’s a less expensive test than the acro one. But what a hassle having to take your Theodore back to the vet!
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I will ask my vet if it was included but I don't think I would be ordering it if not. I've already spent so much money on all sorts of tests ad had to switch his food again to something low phosphorus. I don't think there's a reason to look into it now, he's starting the medication for the protein creatinine ratio in urine as well in addition to taking a puffer for his asthma which was recently diagnosed. I think he has a lot of other issues. It's a lot of stress for all of us and I think he deserves a break because it's a lot of stress to see all these specialists and do all these tests.
 
NadineTheodore said:
I will ask my vet if it was included but I don't think I would be ordering it if not. I've already spent so much money on all sorts of tests ad had to switch his food again to something low phosphorus. I don't think there's a reason to look into it now, he's starting the medication for the protein creatinine ratio in urine as well in addition to taking a puffer for his asthma which was recently diagnosed. I think he has a lot of other issues. It's a lot of stress for all of us and I think he deserves a break because it's a lot of stress to see all these specialists and do all these tests.
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I understand. I agree. Even if he has the antibodies you still just have to do the same thing in the way of handling his diabetes — he may just have a lot of dose changes up and down but then some cats are just like that. What is he eating now?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I understand. I agree. Even if he has the antibodies you still just have to do the same thing in the way of handling his diabetes — he may just have a lot of dose changes up and down but then some cats are just like that. What is he eating now?
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Hounds and Gatos, chicken or game bird flavours. He wouldn’t touch weruva. I top it with pure bites freeze dry chicken. He inhales it. He has dr. Esley’s but barely touched that now since I introduced this… I did order young again mature but I gave it before and I recall he wasn’t a huge fan.
 
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