title: Gallbladder sludge on ultrasound is predictive of increased liver enzymes and total bilirubin in cats.
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.
authors.affiliation: The Companion Animal Research Group, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. Nathaniel.Harran@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harran
authors.forename: Marc-André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: d'Anjou
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin