Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Decreased antithrombin activity linked to inflammation in cats
By Sun, Prudence & Jeffery, Unity·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2021·College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Decreased antithrombin activity and inflammation in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with low levels of a protein called antithrombin, which helps prevent blood clots, were found to have higher signs of inflammation. Specifically, these cats showed more symptoms like low albumin levels and abnormal white blood cells. This suggests that when antithrombin levels drop, it may be linked to inflammation in cats. Understanding this connection could help veterinarians better assess and treat cats with inflammatory conditions.
People also search for: cat low antithrombin levels · cat inflammation symptoms · why is my cat's blood abnormal · cat hypoalbuminemia treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine if inflammatory markers are associated with antithrombin activity in cats. METHODS: For a retrospective population of 231 cats admitted to a referral hospital, antithrombin activity was classified as decreased (n = 77), intermediate (n = 97) or in the upper quartile (n = 57). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for an association between decreased or upper quartile activity and hypoalbuminemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, band neutrophilia and toxic change. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine if an association between band neutrophilia and decreased antithrombin activity was independent of decreased hepatic synthesis, consumptive coagulopathy or protein loss. RESULTS: Cats with decreased antithrombin activity were more likely than cats with intermediate-to-upper quartile activity to have band neutrophilia (OR 2.85, = 0.0050), hypoalbuminemia (OR 12.1,<0.0001) or toxic neutrophils (OR 4.47,<0.0001). Cats with antithrombin activity in the upper quartile were less likely than those with intermediate-to-low activity to have hypoalbuminemia (OR 0.31, = 0.0023) or toxic neutrophils (OR 0.44, = 0.033). In a regression model that included other mechanisms for decreased antithrombin, band neutrophilia remained associated with decreased antithrombin activity (adjusted OR 2.62, = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Contrary to previous studies suggesting antithrombin is a feline positive acute phase protein, this study demonstrates an association between decreased antithrombin activity and inflammation. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanistic basis of this association.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33025836/