Clinical and biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome in cats with liver disease
Abstract
Early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in cats with liver diseases is of critical importance for the timely implementation of therapeutic and preventive measures, prevention of disease progression, and avoidance of irreversible morphofunctional changes. The article presents the results of a comprehensive assessment of hematological and biochemical blood parameters, as well as urinalysis in cats with various forms of hepatic pathology. These indicators reflect the degree of metabolic disturbances, the functional state of the hepatobiliary system, and can be used as informative markers for early diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity. In this context, metabolic syndrome in cats is considered a multisystem regulatory disorder in which the liver acts as a key integrative organ of metabolic, endocrine, and detoxification processes. In cats with hepatic insufficiency, hematological changes were characterized by the development of an anemic syndrome, with a decrease in hemoglobin content by 49.3%, erythrocyte count by 1.9 times, and hematocrit by 63.2%. In cholangiohepatitis, leukocytosis with neutrophilia (17.2 ± 1.10 10 9 /L) was observed, whereas in hepatic lipidosis, hematological disorders were manifested by moderate anemia. The biochemical profile of affected cats was characterized by a combination of hepatocellular, cholestatic, and metabolic components of liver injury. In particular, in cholangiohepatitis, an increase in alanine aminotransferase activity by 4.2 times, aspartate aminotransferase by 3.8 times, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase by 7.7 times, glutamate dehydrogenase by 3.4 times, and ammonia concentration by 3.2 times was observed, along with a decrease in total protein by 10.6%. In hepatic insufficiency, a decrease in total protein by 11.4% and hypoalbuminemia in 34.7% of cats were detected, with a maximum reduction in albumin concentration of 32.1%. In hepatic lipidosis, increased levels of cholesterol (2.9-fold), triglycerides (3.9-fold), fructosamine (1.8-fold), and phospholipids (2.9-fold), as well as an increase in fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) concentration by 4.7 times were recorded. Urinalysis revealed pr o teinuria in 48.2% of affected cats, bilirubinuria in 42.6%, decreased urine specific gravity in 35.4%, and cylindruria in 28.4% of animals. In hepatic lipidosis, glucosuria (23.8%) and ketonuria (18.9%) were observed. The detected changes in urinary param e ters indicate renal involvement in systemic metabolic and detoxification disorders associated with metabolic syndrome in cats. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of the integrated use of hematological and biochemical blood parameters, along with urinalysis, for the early detection of metabolic syndrome in cats with liver diseases and timely correction of the identified diso r ders.References
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