Low blood calcium levels predict pancreatitis outcome in cats

Abstract

Objectives The aims of the study were to assess the possible effects of sex, age and breed on the evolution of pancreatitis, and to understand if low values of serum ionised calcium ([Ca 2+ i]) can be considered as a prognostic risk factor for determining the clinical course of the disease. Methods A sample of 24 cats (n = 24) with pancreatitis was used and grouped according to the disease progress into two groups: (i) non-fatal (NF) for those that recovered and (ii) fatal (F) for those that died. Quantification of [Ca 2+ i] and feline pancreatic lipase (fPL) was carried out for each patient at two different times: T1 (day of diagnosis) and T2 (day of recovery or death). For statistical analysis, P values <0.05 were considered significant. Results At T1, 58.3% of patients presented with hypocalcaemia, 33.3% with normocalcaemia and 8.3% with hypercalcaemia. The [Ca 2+ i] mean values were higher in the F group than in NF. At T2, 75.0% of patients showed normocalcaemia and 25.0% hypocalcaemia. The mean value of [Ca 2+ i] for F at T2 was 0.88 ± 0.23 mmol/l, whereas for NF it was 1.10 ± 0.11 mmol/l. There was no sex or age predisposition for disease development, but a breed effect was noted (domestic shorthair cats were more prone to developing pancreatitis). Conclusions and relevance The results suggest that hypocalcaemia is common in patients with pancreatitis and that [Ca 2+ i] may be used as a prognostic risk factor for predicting the clinical course of the disease, with values ⩽1 mmol/l corresponding to a poor prognosis.