Objectives

The study aimed to investigate the extent and type of inflammation using the complete blood count (CBC) and selected CBC-derived inflammatory markers (neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio [NLR], monocyte:lymphocyte ratio [MLR] and systemic inflammation response index [SIRI]) in cats with cardiomyopathy stages American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) B and ACVIM C vs healthy cats. The second aim was to find any differences in CBC and CBC-derived inflammatory markers between cardiogenic pleural effusion and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.

Methods

For comparison between the control, ACVIM B and ACVIM C groups, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) or Quade’s non-parametric ANCOVA, with age included as a covariate, was used. The independent t-test or Mann–Whitney test was used for comparison of data between cats with pulmonary oedema and those with pleural effusion. A value of P ⩽0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 66 cats with cardiomyopathy (33 ACVIM B and 33 ACVIM C) and 24 healthy cats were included in the study. Cats in the ACVIM C group had a significantly higher white blood cell concentration than those in the ACVIM B control groups. Cats in the ACVIM C group had significantly higher neutrophil concentration, NLR, MLR and SIRI than healthy cats. Cats in the ACVIM B group had a significantly higher NLR and SIRI than healthy cats. Cats with pulmonary oedema and cats with pleural effusion did not differ significantly in any of the investigated CBC and selected CBC-derived inflammatory markers.

Conclusions and relevance

These results support the presence of inflammation in feline cardiomyopathies, particularly in the ACVIM C stage. With the parameters used, no differences in the extent or type of inflammation between cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and pleural effusion was demonstrable.

Search results

Evidence for chronic inflammation in cats with cardiomyopathies

Search results

Evidence for chronic inflammation in cats with cardiomyopathies