Assessment of NT proBNP, Feline Pancreatic Lipase and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Cats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23415052Keywords:
Cat, fPL, NT-proBNP, NLR, veterinaryAbstract
Cardiovascular diseases and pancreatitis represent significant clinical entities in veterinary medicine, both as primary conditions and through their mutual influence on each other’s pathophysiological processes. While numerous studies in human medicine have demonstrated the relationship between cardiac injury and pancreatitis, investigations addressing this interaction in cats remain limited. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship among N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker of cardiac injury; feline pancreatic lipase (fPL), a diagnostic marker of pancreatitis; and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an indicator of systemic inflammation, independent of disease status in cats. The study was conducted on 20 cats of various breeds, ages (mean 4.75 years), and sexes presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Kırıkkale University. Blood samples were collected to measure NT-proBNP and fPL concentrations, while complete blood count data were used to calculate NLR values. Statistical analyses included the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality, Spearman’s correlation analysis to assess relationships among parameters. The analyses revealed no statistically significant associations among the biomarkers examined. Correlation analysis demonstrated very weak and non-significant relationships (p > 0.05) between NT-proBNP and fPL (r = 0.067, p = 0.779), NT-proBNP and NLR (r = 0.263, p = 0.263), and fPL and NLR (r = 0.274, p = 0.242). The findings suggest that NT-proBNP, fPL, and NLR alone are not sufficient to explain the coexistence of pancreatitis in cats with cardiomyopathy or suspected cardiac injury. Although these biomarkers provide valuable clinical information, definitive diagnosis requires integration with physical examination, medical history, and imaging modalities such as ultrasonography. Furthermore, the complexity of the underlying mechanisms highlights the need for larger-scale, prospective studies to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of this interplay.
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