Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and blood test results in cats with sepsis and survival links
By Klainbart, Sigal et al.Ā·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical AssociationĀ·2017Ā·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Clinical, laboratory, and hemostatic findings in cats with naturally occurring sepsis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 31 cats with sepsis showed serious symptoms like dehydration, lethargy, and loss of appetite. They had various underlying issues, including infections and injuries, which led to their condition. Blood tests revealed several abnormalities, such as higher levels of certain enzymes and changes in clotting factors. Despite these findings, none of the test results were linked to survival outcomes. Treatment for these cats varied, and while the study did not confirm specific successful treatments, it highlighted the need for further research to improve care for cats with sepsis.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical and laboratory findings in cats with naturally occurring sepsis, emphasizing hemostasis-related findings, and evaluate these variables for associations with patient outcomes. DESIGN Prospective, observational, clinical study. ANIMALS 31 cats with sepsis and 33 healthy control cats. PROCEDURES Data collected included history; clinical signs; results of hematologic, serum biochemical, and hemostatic tests; diagnosis; and outcome (survival vs death during hospitalization or ≤ 30 days after hospital discharge). Differences between cats with and without sepsis and associations between variables of interest and death were analyzed statistically. RESULTS The sepsis group included cats with pyothorax (n = 10), septic peritonitis (7), panleukopenia virus infection (5), bite wounds (5), abscesses and diffuse cellulitis (3), and pyometra (1). Common clinical abnormalities included dehydration (21 cats), lethargy (21), anorexia (18), pale mucous membranes (15), and dullness (15). Numerous clinicopathologic abnormalities were identified in cats with sepsis; novel findings included metarubricytosis, hypertriglyceridemia, and high circulating muscle enzyme activities. Median activated partial thromboplastin time and plasma D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher, and total protein C and antithrombin activities were significantly lower, in the sepsis group than in healthy control cats. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was uncommon (4/22 [18%] cats with sepsis). None of the clinicopathologic abnormalities were significantly associated with death on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Cats with sepsis had multiple hematologic, biochemical, and hemostatic abnormalities on hospital admission, including several findings suggestive of hemostatic derangement. Additional research including larger numbers of cats is needed to further investigate these findings and explore associations with outcome.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29035656/