Pancreatitis Flashcards
What is the difference per definition between acute and chronic pancreatiis
acute - completely reversible after romoval of the inciting cause
chronic - irreversible histopath changes
differences - mostly histopathological, not necessarily clinical
What is the most common “cause” for pancreatitis in cats?
> 95% idiopathic, without specific cause identified
Which digestive enzyme is autoactivated in pancreatitis as the inciting cause?
trypsinogen
not implicated in chronic panc, just acute
List implicated causes for acute pancreatitis in cats
- autoactivation of trypsinogen
- thrombin activating zymogens
- sepsis/SIRS - systemic inflammation and NFkappaB pathways
- alterations in Ca++ signaling –> colonization of lysosomes and zymogens granules + trypsinogen activation
- hypoperfusion and thrombosis
- bile acid and trypsin reflux
How does the echogenicity of a normal pancreas compare to the liver?
normal pancreas - similar echogenicity (isoechoic or hypoechoic compared to surrounding mesentery)
Which lob of the feline pancreas is larger?
left
right - small and difficult to find
What is the sensitivity of AUS to detect acute pancreatitis in cats?
wide range reported - 11-67% - depends on severity and operator
How accurate is fPLI for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats?
- sensitive to detect pancreatitis
- less specific
i.e., normal results make pancreatitis unlikely