Evaluation of clinicopathological data as severity determinants in cats with pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a common inflammatory disease of the exocrine pancreas in cats. Limited data exist to predict the severity of disease.
In this study, researchers analyzed the medical records of 45 cats with suspected pancreatitis (SP) to identify disease severity markers. Case definition was based on an internist’s review of clinopathologic data, Spec fPL concentration, and AUS findings.
Information extracted from the medical records included signalment, history, physical examination findings, selected clinicopathological data (total bilirubin, glucose, ALP, ALT, and total calcium), Spec fPL concentration, AUS images/clips, length of hospitalization, and survival data.
The team identified selected bloodwork abnormalities, including a high pancreatic lipase concentration, a high total bilirubin concentration and a low calcium concentration as possible predictors of prolonged hospitalization.
Hazard ratios were used to evaluate the association between clinicopathological data, the Spec fPL assay, AUS findings, and the length of hospitalization. Clinicopathological abnormalities, the Spec fPL, and AUS abnormalities were not statistically associated with the length of hospitalization.
Despite a lack of statistical significance, the hazard ratios suggest the potential that an elevated total bilirubin (hazard ratio (HR): 1.19), hypocalcemia (HR: 1.49) and an elevated Spec fPL concentration (HR: 1.54) could be associated with prolonged hospitalization, although additional studies would be needed to verify this. Additionally, hazard ratios suggest that AUS evidence of concurrent gallbladder (HR: 1.61) and gastric abnormalities (HR: 1.36) could be associated with prolonged hospitalization.
Based on the findings, the authors said that cats with SP that have concurrent gallbladder and stomach abnormalities on abdominal ultrasound (AUS) may require prolonged hospitalization. These findings may help veterinarians identify cats that have more severe disease and could require hospitalization.
Christy Buckley et al. "Evaluation of Clinicopathological Data, the Specific Feline Pancreatic Lipase Assay, and Abdominal Ultrasound as Severity Determinants in Cats with Pancreatitis." Veterinary Sciences. 10 March 2023, 10(3), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030209.
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