Evaluation of sonographic parameters as prognostic risk factors in cats with pancreatitis: A retrospective study in 42 cats

OBJECTIVE: Pancreatitis in cats can have different clinical courses. A range from asymptomatic or mild, unspecific clinical signs to severe disease with multi-organ dysfunction or even death has been described. It is sometimes difficult to evaluate the prognosis of the cat based on clinical findings, laboratory diagnostics and diagnostic imaging. There are only a few studies that have examined the outcome and prognostic factors for cats with pancreatitis. In cats presenting with signs of pancreatitis, the feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) and sonography are frequently used for establishing a diagnosis. Different sonographic parameters have been described to be asso ciated with pancreatitis. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether certain sonographic parameters correlate with the severity and the outcome of pancreatitis in the cat. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 42 cats, presented with at least two clinical signs consistent with pancreatitis and increased fPLI-values (> 5.3 µg/l), the following sonographic parameters were examined: thickness, surface and echogenicity of the pancreas, echogenicity of the peripancreatic fat tissue and the presence of ascites. Cats surviving the first 30 days were classified as survivors and those dying within 30 days as nonsurvivors. RESULTS: Sonographic changes were found in 33/42 cats (79 %). The most frequent sonographic abnormalities were hyper-echoic peripancreatic fat (55 %), hypoechoic pancreatic tissue (45 %) and a thickened pancreas (36 %). There was no significant correlation between sonographic changes and the outcome of the cats. No significant differences in the fPLI concentration were found between the two groups. The fPLI concentration correlated significantly with the prognosis. CONCLUSION: Neither the presence nor the intensity of the sonographic changes correlate with the outcome of cats with pancreatitis. Contrary to this, the fPLI value is a negative prognostic factor, as has been described previously