Abstract

The purposes of this retrospective study were to assess the prevalence of gallbladder sludge (GBS) in a population of cats presented for abdominal ultrasound in a teaching hospital and to determine its association with increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TB). Gallbladder sludge was detected in 152 (14%) of the cats undergoing abdominal ultrasound between 2004 and 2008. This population was compared to a control group of 32 cats without GBS. Alanine aminotransferase, ALP, and TB mean values were significantly higher in cats with GBS than in controls (P ≤ 0.0005) and odds for increased values in cats with GBS were 4.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6 to 11.0], 9.5 (95% CI: 2.2 to 41.7), and 4.1 (95% CI: 1.5 to 11.5), respectively (P ≤ 0.007). In conclusion, GBS is an uncommon ultrasonographic finding in cats that is predictive of increased liver enzymes and TB. More studies are needed to establish potential links between GBS and hepatobiliary disease in cats.

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Authors

Harran N, d'Anjou MA, Dunn M, Beauchamp G

Institution

The Companion Animal Research Group, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. Nathaniel.Harran@bristol.ac.uk

Source

The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue vétérinaire canadienne 52:9 2011 Sep pg 999-1003

MeSH

Alkaline Phosphatase
Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Biliary Tract Diseases
Bilirubin
Cat Diseases
Cats
Female
Gallbladder
Liver
Liver Diseases
Male
Predictive Value of Tests
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22379201