Evaluation of hematological parameters in cats with intestinal lymphoma

Nowadays intestinal lymphoma is considered to be the most common tumor of alimentary tract in cats. The disease is characterized by severe course and poor response to chemotherapy. Since this tumor shares clinical and ultrasound characteristics with inflammatory bowel disease, the diagnosis is challenging and requires a variety of diagnostic modalities, including blood tests. Thus, the purpose of the research was to evaluate hematological parameters of cats with intestinal lymphoma. The diagnosis was confirmed using cytological and histological examinations. The objects of the research were cats of various breeds (20 animals in total), various sex and age groups. All animals underwent a clinical examination using standard methods, ultrasonographic examination of the abdominal cavity, and hematological studies. It was established that there was no correlation between disease stage and blood parameters. It was found that the first stage was not accompanied by changes in hematological parameters, the second stage was characterized by an increase in urea concentration (15.9 ± 7.9 mmol/l), the third stage was accompanied by an increase in ALT (115.6 ± 120.7 U/l) and AST (97 ± 96.1 U/l), fourth stage was characterized by an increase in leukocytes (19.4 ± 18.96), AST (134.6 ± 242), urea (18.5 ± 20.1) and creatinine (239.8 ± 257.1). The level of the blood parameters’ increase can be characterized as moderate and its origin is associated with progressive destruction of muscle mass, presence of concomitant diseases, but not with the tumor growth. The exception is an increased content of leukocytes in the blood, which can be explained by the body’s increased need for phagocytosis.