EXPRESS: Evidence for Chronic Inflammation in Cats with Cardiomyopathies

Objectives The study aimed to investigate the extent and type of inflammation using the complete blood count (CBC) and selected CBC-derived inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI)) in cats with cardiomyopathy stages ACVIM B and ACVIM C versus healthy cats. Second aim was to find any differences in CBC and CBC-derived inflammatory markers between cardiogenic pleural effusion and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. For comparison between the control, ACVIM B, and ACVIM C groups, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) or Quade’s non-parametric ANCOVA with age included as a covariate was used. The independent t-test or the Mann-Whitney test were used for comparison of data between cats with pulmonary oedema and those with pleural effusion. A value of P≤0.05 was considered significant. Results Sixty-six cats with cardiomyopathy (33 ACVIM B and 33 ACVIM C) and 24 healthy cats were included in the study. Cats in ACVIM C had a significantly higher white blood cell concentration than ACVIM B and healthy cats. Cats in ACVIM C had significantly higher neutrophil concentration, NLR, MLR and SIRI than healthy cats. Cats in ACVIM B had a significantly higher NLR and SIRI than healthy cats. Cats with pulmonary oedema and cats with pleural effusion did not differ significantly in any of the investigated CBC and selected CBC-derived inflammatory markers. Conclusions and relevance These results support the presence of inflammation in feline cardiomyopathies particularly in the ACVIM C stage. With the parameters used, no differences in the extent or type of inflammation between cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and pleural effusion was demonstrable.