FELINE IDIOPATHIC CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 30 CASES

Thirty cases of idiopathic chronic rhinosinusitis were reviewed retrospectively. No age, sex, or breed predisposition was noted. The most common clinical signs were nasal discharge, sneezing, increased breathing sounds, and ocular discharge. Nasal discharge was frequently unilateral and occasionally blood tinged indicating that these findings are not reliable indicators of disease other than idiopathic chronic rhinosinusitis. Coughing was noted in some cats. Systemic signs infrequently were present, although inflammatory leukograms were common. Contrary to previous reports, viremia due to feline leukemia virus infection was rare. Skull radiographs often revealed loss of turbinate pattern. Sinus involvement was always accompanied by ipsilateral nasal disease supporting the unusual nature of primary sinusitis. Nasal cytology invariably revealed suppurative inflammation that often was septic, supporting a significant role for secondary bacterial infections. As expected, bacterial cultures most often yielded normal flora. A first-generation cephalosporin, trimethoprim/sulfa, or chloramphenicol would be the antibiotic of choice for empiric treatment of secondary bacterial infections. Although antibiotic therapy temporarily palliated clinical signs in some cases, no permanent remissions were seen.