title: Investigation of iron status and markers of inflammation in anaemic and non-anaemic hospitalised cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure iron parameters and markers of inflammation in anaemic cats presented for intensive care unit hospitalisation, and to compare these to cohorts of non-anaemic hospitalised cats and cats that develop hospital-acquired anaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected for measurement of iron panel and serum amyloid A in addition to routine investigation in cats admitted to the intensive care unit. Medical records were reviewed to determine how many of the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome criteria were met and to assign Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation scores as a measure of illness severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight cats were enrolled. Anaemia was documented in 34·6% of cats on presentation and another 10·3% developed anaemia during hospitalisation. Compared with non-anaemic cats, animals that were anaemic on presentation had higher neutrophil and white blood cell counts, and longer hospitalisation. Iron status was consistent with anaemia of inflammation in most anaemic patients. Iron status, serum amyloid A concentration, and prevalence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome did not differ between anaemic and non-anaemic cohorts. All cause mortality was higher in anaemic cats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaemia is common in cats hospitalised in the intensive care unit. Systemic inflammation is also common in these cats. Iron status in anaemic cats suggests that anaemia of inflammatory disease may be a significant contributor to anaemia in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Roedern
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Buriko
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prittie
authors.affiliation: Lamb Statistical Consulting, West Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007501:Iron