FELINE ASTHMA SYNDROME - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION IN 29 CATS

Feline asthma syndrome (FAS) is a clinical condition characterised by recurrent bouts of coughing, wheezing and, or, dyspnoea. While the aet iology is unproven, the condition is believed to involve a type I imme diate hypersensitivity reaction to inhaled allergens. In this paper th e clinical data from 29 cats, where a diagnosis of FAS was made, are a ssessed retrospectively. The most common clinical presentation was rec urrent bouts of coughing (n=26) and dyspnoea (n=21). Radiographic chan ges were noted in 24 cats, which included increased bronchial (n=5), i nterstitial (n=7) and mixed (n=12) (bronchial and interstitial) patter ns. Right middle lung lobe collapse was noted in two cats. Abnormal br onchial cytology was present in 16 cats. A predominant eosinophilic sa mple was collected in only three cats. There were minimal changes in d ifferential white cell counts, and mild eosinophilia was found in only five cats. Prednisolone alone was the most effective therapy, althoug h avoidance of putative aeroallergens and antibacterial therapy was ef fective in some. Ori the basis of the data from these cases it would a ppear that the diagnosis pf FAS depends largely on the clinical presen tation and radiographic findings. The value of ancillary tests in the diagnosis of FAS appears to be limited.