title: Feline Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: A Retrospective Study of 150 Cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is available about the clinical presentation and response to treatment of cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the signalment, clinical signs, concurrent diseases, and response to treatment of cats with EPI.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty cats with EPI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires were sent to 261 veterinarians, and 150 (57%) were returned with data suitable for statistical analysis. The median age of the cats with EPI was 7.7 years. The median body condition score was 3 of 9. Ninety-two of 119 cats (77%) had hypocobalaminemia, and 56 of 119 cats (47%) had increased and 6 of 119 cats (5%) had decreased serum folate concentrations. Clinical signs included weight loss (91%), unformed feces (62%), poor hair coat (50%), anorexia (45%), increased appetite (42%), lethargy (40%), watery diarrhea (28%), and vomiting (19%). Eighty-seven cats (58%) had concurrent diseases. Treatment response was reported to be good in 60%, partial in 27%, and poor in 13% of 121 cats. Trypsin-like immunoreactivity <4 μg/L was associated with a positive response to treatment (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.5-7.0; P = .004). Also, cobalamin supplementation improved the response to treatment (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.6; P = .006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cats often has a different clinical presentation than in dogs. The age range for EPI in cats is wide, and many cats can be ≤5 years of age. Most cats respond well to appropriate treatment for EPI, and cobalamin supplementation appears to be necessary for a good response.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Xenoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Zoran
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fosgate
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suchodolski
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014357:Trypsin; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Cat; Cobalamin; Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Treatment