Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline Cholangitis.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Watson, Penelope
- Affiliation:
- Emmanuel College · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Cholangitis is a liver disease that affects cats and is the most common liver issue seen in them, though it's not fully understood. There are different types of cholangitis, including chronic lymphocytic and acute neutrophilic forms, and sometimes they can overlap. The acute form is often linked to bacterial infections and problems with bile flow. The lymphocytic type might be related to the immune system, but there are variations in how the disease looks and responds to treatment, indicating that there may be several different diseases at play. Overall, the review highlights what we currently know about cholangitis in cats and suggests areas for further study.
Abstract
Inflammatory biliary tract disease (cholangitis) is the commonest liver disease in cats but remains poorly understood. There are chronic lymphocytic and acute neutrophilic forms together with chronic neutrophilic cholangitis which may overlap both these categories. Acute suppurative cholangitis is often associated with bacterial infections and interruptions to bile flow. Lymphocytic forms may be immune-mediated but there is evidence of heterogenicity in histologic and clinical appearance and response to treatment which may suggest several distinct diseases. This review discusses current knowledge, presentation, and diagnosis of feline cholangitis and suggests avenues for future research.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40307104/