Ward C.R.
Conference Proceedings, (1999). American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Chicago, IL: p.557-558
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrinopathy in cats, affecting a large percentage of middle to older aged cats. Since its recognition as a clinical entity some 20 years ago, it has been diagnosed with increasing frequency; however, the pathogenesis of the disease is not currently understood. Feline hyperthyroidism most often results from benign adenomatous hyperplasia of the thyrold and is clinically and pathologically similar to toxic nodular goiter or Plummer’s disease in humans. Interestingly most cats have bilateral disease. Because of its impact on feline health and similarity to human disease study into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of feline hyperthyroid diseases may be important to our understanding of this disease and other hyperfunctioning endocrine diseases.