Pancreatic enzyme activity in the bile of healthy cats and its association with biliary morphology

Background In human medicine, congenital maljunction of the common bile duct (CBD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD), or pancreatobiliary maljunction (PBM), is a known cause of cholecystitis. Objective Pancreatic enzyme activity in the bile (a diagnostic marker for PBM) of healthy cats was measured to determine normal values and evaluate its relationship with biliary morphology. Animals Fifty-two healthy cats. Methods Cross-sectional study of the biliary tracts of healthy cats during laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy and measurement of pancreatic enzyme activity in bile. The cats were divided into groups A and B based on the ratio of the diameter of the cystic duct (CD) to the CBD. The normal ratio was 3.4. Pancreatic enzyme activity in bile was compared between the groups. Results The CBDs were straight in all cases, whereas the CDs were variably tortuous or dilated. Amylase activity in the bile (median, 3.4, had significantly higher amylase activity (median, 109 U/L; range, <100-591 U/L) in the bile than did group A (median, <100 U/L; range, <100-238 U/L), which had a CD/CBD ratio