Severity of neurological signs in feline hypertensive encephalopathy may be reflected through brain histopathological lesions

Abstract

Hypertensive encephalopathy (HE) was diagnosed in two aged cats with chronic kidney disease. The cause for admission was generalised epileptic seizures, with severe, interictal neurological dysfunction (dementia, locomotor dysfunction, cranial nerve deficits). Both cats had systolic hypertension (SH) (180‐220 mm Hg), bilateral retinal detachment, non‐regenerative anaemia and moderate renal azotaemia. Both cats died. Gross lesions were apparent in one cat consisting of white matter oedema in the parietal and temporal lobe and a focal area of malacia. Histopathological examination of brain tissue revealed bilateral severe oedema and astrocytic gliosis in the corona radiata, basal nuclei, thalamus and piriform lobe of both cats. Extensive hyaline and hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis, perivascular plasma exudation and haemorrhages were present throughout the meninges and neuroparenchyma. Histopathological findings reflected the severity of neurological deficits. This could indicate that the severity of the brain lesions is associated with the neurological manifestations of HE.