Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High vitamin B12 levels linked to liver and cancer in cats
By Trehy, Mary R et al.Ā·Published in BMC veterinary researchĀ·2014Ā·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Hypercobalaminaemia is associated with hepatic and neoplastic disease in cats: a cross sectional study.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats was found to have high levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in their blood, which can be a sign of serious health issues. Out of 174 cats studied, 42 had elevated cobalamin levels without any prior vitamin supplementation. The research indicated that these high levels were often linked to liver disease or tumors, especially in pedigree breeds. If your cat has high cobalamin levels, it's important to consult your veterinarian for further testing to check for potential liver or cancer-related problems.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: When increased serum cobalamin concentrations are encountered clinically they are usually attributed to parenteral supplementation, dietary factors, or otherwise ignored. However, recently, hypercobalaminaemia has been associated with numerous diseases in humans, most notably neoplastic and hepatic disorders. The aim of this retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study was to determine the significance of increased cobalamin in cats. RESULTS: In total, 237 records were retrieved and 174 cats, of various ages and sexes met the inclusion criteria. A total of 42 cats had increased serum cobalamin concentration, and had not received prior supplementation. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that increased serum cobalamin concentration was positively related to pedigree breed (pedigree breeds more likely to have increased cobalamin concentration, odds ratio [OR] 4.24, 95% CI 1.78-10.15, P = 0.001), to having liver disease (OR 9.91, 95% CI 3.54-27.68), and to having a solid neoplasm (OR 8.54, 95% CI 1.10-66.45). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that increased serum cobalamin concentrations should not be ignored in cats with no history of supplementation, and investigation for underlying hepatic or neoplastic disease is warranted.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25103858/