Latrogenic hyperadrenocorticism in 28 Dogs

Twenty-eight dogs with iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism were studied. The mo st common clinical signs were cutaneous lesions (27/28), polydipsia (21/28) , polyuria (19/28), and lethargy (16/28). The most predominant findings on biochemical profile were elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP, 15/28) and ala nine transferase (ALT, 14/28); hypercholesterolemia (14/28); elevated aspar tate transferase (AST, 12/28); and elevated triglycerides (12/18). Baseline cortisol levels of all 28 dogs were at the lower end of the reference rang e and exhibited suppressed or no response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (A CTH) stimulation. The mean time for each dog to show initial improvement of clinical signs after corticosteroid withdrawal was six weeks, with another mean time of 12 weeks to demonstrate complete remission.