Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lipase levels over time in healthy cats and cats with diet-related
By Moscoso Uribe, Freya et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2025·Institute of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Progression of lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in clinically healthy cats and cats with diet-responsive enteropathy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two cats with diarrhea were studied over a year to understand their lipase levels, which are enzymes related to pancreatic function. The cats had normal pancreas images on ultrasound, but their lipase levels varied, showing both normal and increased values. Interestingly, both cats responded well to dietary changes, which helped manage their symptoms. This study highlights the challenges veterinarians face in interpreting lipase levels in cats, as they can fluctuate without clear links to health issues.
People also search for: cat diarrhea treatment · cat lipase levels meaning · diet for cats with enteropathy
Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to describe the course of lipase activity, pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) and clinical findings over time in cats.MethodsFour clinically healthy cats and two diarrhoeic cats from a research colony aged 2-8 years with normal haematology and serum biochemistry results were followed up with lipase measurements over a total of 12 months in this descriptive study. Lipase activity (LIPCRoche; reference interval [RI] 8-26 U/l) was determined at day 0, and lipase activity and concurrent PLI (Spec fPL; RI 0-4.4 µg/l) were determined at days 19, 47, 54, 221 and 369. All cats were examined weekly. The pancreas and gastrointestinal tract of all cats were examined via ultrasonography.ResultsLipase activity and PLI in four clinically healthy cats was in the range of 10-283 U/l (median 69) and 1.2-86 µg/l (median 13), respectively. Lipase activity and PLI in two cats with enteropathy was in the range of 16-130 U/l (median 42) and 1.9-36 µg/l (median 8.3). The magnitude and nature of change were always the same for both assays. The correlation between assays was very high (0.984;<0.0001). The pancreas was normal on ultrasound in both diarrhoeic cats and two healthy cats, whereas a hypoechoic and enlarged pancreas was found in two clinically healthy cats with persistently increased lipase values. All cats had ultrasonographic evidence of enteropathy. No pattern could be recognised in the temporal lipase progression; only one healthy cat with an ultrasonographically abnormal pancreas had continuously increasing values. Both cats with large bowel diarrhoea were diet-responsive.Conclusions and relevanceLipase activity and PLI varied from normal to markedly increased in clinically healthy cats and cats with diet-responsive enteropathy and a normal pancreas on ultrasonography. Both lipase assays yielded virtually identical results. No apparent association between lipase results and clinical or ultrasonographic findings was found. The results illustrate the difficulties clinicians face when trying to assess the significance of lipase levels in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41017078/