Serial measurement of serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity and trypsin-like immunoreactivity concentrations in cats with chronic enteropathy.

ObjectivesSerial measurement of serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) and trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) concentrations in cats with chronic enteropathy (CE) has not been previously reported. The aim of the current observational study was to serially evaluate serum fPLI and fTLI concentrations in cats with different forms of CE.MethodsA total of 60 cats with CE were included, diagnosed either with immunosuppressive-responsive enteropathy (IRE; n = 22), food-responsive enteropathy (FRE; n = 7) or low-grade intestinal T-cell lymphoma (LGITL; n = 32, one diagnosed previously as FRE progressed to lymphoma). Serum fPLI and fTLI concentrations were measured in 252 and 245 serum samples, respectively, from 60 cats with CE at initial presentation and during re-examination.ResultsSerum fPLI concentrations indicative of pancreatitis were found in 3/60 cats (one with IRE and two with LGITL) at initial presentation and in an additional 8/60 cats (four with IRE and four with LGITL) during treatment (24/252 serum samples). Serum fTLI concentrations indicative of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency were found in 2/60 cats (both with IRE) at initial presentation and during re-examination (n = 3/245). None of the cats with FRE had fPLI concentrations above or fTLI concentrations below the respective reference intervals (RIs).Conclusions and relevanceSerum fPLI concentrations may fluctuate during treatment in a subset of cats with IRE or LGITL and, in some cats, are indicative of pancreatitis. Serum fTLI concentrations may vary within and outside the RI in a relatively small proportion of cats with IRE. The long-term clinical importance of these findings requires further study.