ACTH profiles in dogs after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy as an indicator for recurrence.

Abstract

One of the most encountered endocrinological disorders in dogs in the veterinary practice is Cushing’s syndrome or hypercortisolism a disorder of the pituitary gland or adrenal glands which causes the adrenal glands to secrete an excess of cortisol. Hypercortisolism causes a wide variety of symptoms and not all are always seen in every patient. Dogs with this disease can be treated with medication or in case of pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism a surgical procedure called a transsphenoidal hypofysectomy can be performed. In Europe this surgery is only performed at the University Clinic of companion animals in Utrecht, the Netherlands. One of the most common complications of a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is the possibility of the recurrence of hypercortisolism due to regrowth of the pituitary cells. The objective of this study is to assess immediate postoperative ACTH profiles of dogs that underwent hypophysectomy and correlate peri-operative ACTH levels with the recurrence of pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism in the long-term follow up.