Abstract
Background:
Corticosteroids are among the most commonly used drugs in cats andare increasingly discussed as a treatment for feline pancreatitis. However, its effectson serum lipase in healthy cats remain unknown.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effects of prednisolone on serum lipase activity and pan-creatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) in cats.
Animals:
Seven clinically healthy colony cats, aged 4 to 7 years, with unremarkableCBC/biochemistry panel were studied.Methods:Prospective study: Prednisolone (1.1-1.5 mg/kg, median 1.28 mg/kg PO)was given daily for 7 consecutive days. Lipase activity (LIPC Roche; RI, 8-26 U/L) andPLI (Spec fPL; RI, 0-3.5μg/L) were determined at day 1 before first treatment and atdays 2, 3, 8, 10, and 14. Cats were examined daily. An a priori power analysis indi-cated that 6 cats were needed to find a biological relevant effect at 1-β=0.8. Statis-tical analyses comprised the Friedman test, random intercept regression, andrepeated-measures linear regression.
Results:
Median (range) day 1 lipase activities and PLI were 22 U/L (14-52 U/L) and3.2μg/L (2.3-15.7μg/L). One cat with abnormally high lipase activity (52 U/L) andPLI (15.7μg/L) at day 1 continued having elevated lipase activities and PLI through-out the study. Lipase activities and PLI concentrations did not differ significantlyamong time points regardless of whether the cat with elevated values was includedor not. All cats remained healthy throughout the study.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance:
Administration of prednisolone in anti-inflammatory doses does not significantly increase serum lipase activity and PLI concentration.
Pacheva, Militsa