Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with bile duct blockage and gallstones treated and followed up
By Harvey, Andrea M et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2007·Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment and long-term follow-up of extrahepatic biliary obstruction with bilirubin cholelithiasis in a Somali cat with pyruvate kinase deficiency.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female Somali cat was brought in for vomiting and yellowing of the skin (jaundice) after being diagnosed with a blood disorder called pyruvate kinase deficiency. Tests showed she had anemia and high levels of bilirubin, indicating a blockage in her bile ducts. During surgery, the vet found and removed two gallstones made of bilirubin and treated an infection in her gall bladder. After surgery, she recovered well, and her liver function returned to normal within ten days. Now, 20 months later, she is doing great with no signs of the stones returning.
People also search for: cat vomiting jaundice treatment · Somali cat gallstones · pyruvate kinase deficiency in cats
Abstract
A 2-year-old female neutered Somali cat was presented with vomiting and acute onset jaundice 1 year after diagnosis of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. Diagnostic investigations revealed a moderate regenerative haemolytic anaemia, severe hyperbilirubinaemia and elevated liver enzymes. Ultrasonography revealed marked distension of the gall bladder and common bile duct (CBD), consistent with extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). At cholecystotomy, the gall bladder contained purulent material, and two obstructive choleliths were removed from the CBD by choledochotomy. The cat recovered from surgery uneventfully, and serum liver enzymes and bilirubin normalised within 10 days. Postoperative treatment consisted of cephalexin, metronidazole and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Bacterial culture of the gall bladder contents yielded a pure growth of an Actinomyces species. Cholelith analysis revealed that they consisted of 100% bilirubin. Antibiotic treatment was stopped 4 weeks after surgery but UDCA was continued indefinitely. The cat remains clinically well with no recurrence of cholelithiasis 20 months after initial presentation. This is the first report of successful treatment and long-term follow-up of a cat with EHBO due to bilirubin cholelithiasis in association with PK deficiency-induced chronic haemolysis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17475529/