Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How reliable is albumin:globulin ratio for diagnosing FIP in cats
By Jeffery, Unity et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Veterinary Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Positive predictive value of albumin: globulin ratio for feline infectious peritonitis in a mid-western referral hospital population.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 100 cats showing signs of illness was tested for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a serious viral disease. The study found that a low albumin to globulin ratio (A:G) could help rule out FIP, with a 100% negative predictive value for an A:G ratio below 0.8. However, if the A:G ratio was below 0.6, it only indicated FIP in 25% of the cases, meaning it wasn't reliable for confirming the disease. This suggests that while a low A:G ratio can help veterinarians determine that FIP is unlikely, it shouldn't be solely relied upon for a positive diagnosis.
People also search for: cat FIP symptoms · low albumin globulin ratio in cats · how to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis
Abstract
Low albumin to globulin ratio has been found previously to have a high positive predictive value for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats with clinical signs highly suggestive of the disease. However, FIP can have a more vague clinical presentation. This retrospective study found that the positive predictive value of an albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio of <0.8 and <0.6 was only 12.5% and 25%, respectively, in a group of 100 cats with one or more clinical signs consistent with FIP. The negative predictive value was 100% and 99% for an A:G ratio of <0.8 and A:G<0.6%, respectively. Therefore, when the prevalence of FIP is low, the A:G ratio is useful to rule out FIP but is not helpful in making a positive diagnosis of FIP.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22811479/