Serum cobalamin concentrations in cats with gastrointestinal signs: correlation with histopathological findings and duration of clinical signs

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 686 - 693
• Main Authors: Maunder, Christina L, Day, Michael J, Hibbert, Angie, Steiner, Jörg M, Suchodolski, Jan S, Hall, Edward J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers - blood; Cat Diseases - blood; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - pathology; Cats; Gastrointestinal Diseases - blood; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - pathology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - veterinary; Original; Prevalence; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - blood; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - veterinary
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X12447730

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminaemia in UK cats presented for referral investigation of gastrointestinal signs and to ascertain whether the duration of clinical signs or severity of disease (based on WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization histopathological grading) related to cobalamin concentration. The study population comprised 39 cats, of which 11 (28.2%) had hypocobalaminaemia. Eight of these cats were diagnosed with a single cause of gastrointestinal signs: intestinal inflammation (five); alimentary lymphoma (two); and cholangitis (one). Two or more concurrent diseases were diagnosed in the three remaining cases. Alimentary lymphoma and the most severe grade of histological intestinal inflammation were associated most commonly with concurrent hypocobalaminaemia, but there was no statistically significant correlation between serum cobalamin concentrations and histopathological score or duration of clinical signs.