# Retrospective Evaluation of the Prognostic Utility of Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Hospitalized Cats with Pancreatitis

## TL;DR

This study identifies key clinical and lab indicators that help predict the outcome of pancreatitis in hospitalized cats.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into prognostic factors for feline pancreatitis, specifically highlighting the roles of jaundice, renal disease, and other clinicopathological indicators.

## Key findings

- Jaundice, renal disease, hypoalbuminemia, increased BUN, and neutrophil toxic changes are significant prognostic indicators in feline pancreatitis.
- The combination of renal disease and jaundice increases mortality risk 12-fold, while hypoalbuminemia and neutrophil toxic changes increase it 120-fold.
- Hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis upon admission were not predictive of outcomes in feline pancreatitis.

## Abstract

Pancreatitis is the most common exocrine pancreatic disease in cats. Since most feline pancreatitis cases are idiopathic, treatment is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Rapid identification of high-risk patients allows for timely decisions to implement aggressive medical and nutritional interventions at an early stage. This study used the medical records of 142 cats diagnosed with pancreatitis to identify potential markers of disease prognosis. The study aimed to evaluate the potential prognostic significance of clinical signs, physical examination findings, and clinicopathological data, focusing on the roles of metabolic acidosis and lactic acidosis as prognostic factors in feline pancreatitis. We found that jaundice, concurrent renal disease, hypoalbuminemia, increased blood urea nitrogen, and neutrophil cytoplasmic toxic change at the time of hospital admission were independent prognostic indicators of the outcomes.

Pancreatitis in cats ranges from mild forms with low mortality to severe cases with poor prognosis, and early identification of high-risk patients remains a challenge. The prognostic significance of hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis in feline pancreatitis is not well established. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors in hospitalized cats with pancreatitis and assess the predictive value of hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis. A retrospective study of 142 cats diagnosed between January 2020 and December 2023 was conducted, analyzing signalment, clinical signs, and clinicopathological findings. Diagnosis was based on clinical signs, abnormal feline pancreatic lipase assay, and abdominal sonography. Multivariate analysis identified jaundice (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.7–12.7), renal disease (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.05–5.40), hypoalbuminemia (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.70–9.01), increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR, 4.76; 95% CI, 1.96–11.53), and neutrophil cytoplasmic toxic change (OR, 10.54; 95% CI, 4.17–26.7) as independent prognostic indicators. The combination of renal disease and jaundice increased the mortality risk 12-fold, while hypoalbuminemia and neutrophil toxic changes increased it 120-fold. However, hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis upon admission were not predictive of outcomes. These findings suggest that jaundice, renal disease, hypoalbuminemia, increased BUN, and neutrophil toxic changes are significant prognostic indicators in feline pancreatitis, whereas hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis do not predict mortality.