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Hypokalaemic Episodic Weakness

May also be spelt: Hypokalemic Episodic Weakness

Weakness due to low potassium concentration in the blood

Sex: both male and female kittens can be affected

Age: clinical signs first appear between two to six months of age

Breeds predisposed: Burmese

Clinical signs: acute onset of generalized weakness of limb and neck muscles, ventroflexion (dropping) of the neck, inability to lift the head, the chin is held downwards towards the sternum, head tremor in some cats (head nods up and down as the cat walks), cats are reluctant to walk and tire easily, stiff stilted gait with hypermetria of the forelimbs and a wide-based hindlimb stance, some kittens show knuckling of the carpus, they may sink on their hocks and sit with the stifles abducted

Blood Tests (Haematology/Serum Biochemistry): increased creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) - often to very high levels, intermittent hypokalaemia (<3.0mmol/l)

EMG: no abnormalities detected

Treatment: affected kittens make an excellent response to oral supplementation with potassium, long term treatment is required to prevent recurrence of clinical signs, some kittens have improved after a period of time with or without treatment

Prognosis: attacks are transient and occur suddenly, there is a variable course with improvement followed by relapse, there may sometimes be weeks between episodes, signs may be precipitated by stress or vigourous exercise

References

Gruffydd-Jones TJ, "Episodic Collapse", Proceedings of the Companion Society of the NZVA: Feline Medicine, FCE Publication No. 133, 1991

Tilley LP & Smith FWK, The Five Minute Veterinary Consult - Canine and Feline (2nd Edition), Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2000

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