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1 December 2016 Successful Treatment of Suspected Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Mealy Amazon Parrot (Amazona farinose)
Sean M. Brady, Anne Burgdorf-Moisuk, Sarah Silverman, Raymund F. Wack
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Abstract

A 25-year-old, male mealy Amazon parrot (Amazona farinose) with a history of polycythemia, hepatomegaly, and epistaxis was evaluated for progressive lethargy and anorexia. Clinical laboratory testing revealed severe polycythemia (71%), hypophosphatemia (1.6 mg/dL), and mild hypokalemia (2.8 mEq/L). Radiographs showed marked hepatomegaly and loss of air sac space. Despite supportive treatments, the bird's condition deteriorated, and it developed ataxia, was unable to fly, and became oxygen dependent. An echocardiogram, including an air bubble study, revealed a right-to-left atrial shunt and presumed pulmonary arterial hypertension. The bird was started on periodic phlebotomy (5–10 mL/kg q6wk) to reduce packed cell volume and sildenafil citrate (2.5 mg/kg PO q8h) for treatment of suspected pulmonary arterial hypertension. One week later, the patient was weaned off oxygen, and 24 days after initial presentation, the parrot was returned to its outdoor exhibit. Intermittent periods of increased respiratory rate and effort have been reported but have resolved without additional treatments. Epistaxis, once common in this bird, has not been noted since initiating treatment with sildenafil citrate 15 months ago.

© 2017 by the Association of Avian Veterinarians
Sean M. Brady, Anne Burgdorf-Moisuk, Sarah Silverman, and Raymund F. Wack "Successful Treatment of Suspected Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Mealy Amazon Parrot (Amazona farinose)," Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 30(4), 368-373, (1 December 2016). https://doi.org/10.1647/2015-127
Published: 1 December 2016
KEYWORDS
Amazona farinose
Avian
mealy Amazon parrot
polycythemia
pulmonary arterial hypertension
right-to-left shunt
sildenafil citrate
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