Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Journal:
- Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Jergens, Albert E
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition in cats that causes ongoing problems in the digestive system, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. This disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the small intestine, and may also involve inflammation in other organs like the pancreas and liver, which can make the cat feel worse. The exact causes of IBD are not fully understood, but it seems to involve a mix of genetic factors and bacteria in the gut. Diagnosing IBD usually requires taking a small tissue sample from the intestines to see what type of inflammation is present and to rule out other conditions, such as a type of cancer called alimentary lymphoma. The article aims to help veterinarians stay updated on the latest information about diagnosing and treating this condition in cats.
Abstract
Practical relevance: Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) denotes one form of chronic enteropathy that is immunologically mediated and characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs and histologic inflammation. Signs of vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss generally predominate, and mucosal inflammation may occur in any portion of the GI tract (especially the small intestine). Affected cats may also have concurrent inflammation in other organs, such as the pancreas and liver, which may impact clinical disease severity. Clinical challenges: The exact etiologies of this heterogeneous group of disorders have yet to be determined, though results from basic science and clinical studies suggest that interplay between genetic factors and enteric bacteria is crucial for disease development. The diagnosis is one of exclusion and requires intestinal mucosal biopsy to characterize the type and severity of the inflammatory infiltrate, and to differentiate IBD from other disorders, including alimentary lymphoma. Controversy exists concerning the relative diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic versus full-thickness specimens for the diagnosis of IBD and its differentiation from alimentary lymphoma. Audience: This article is intended to provide veterinary practitioners with a comprehensive clinical update on idiopathic IBD in cats. It reviews the current evidence-based data, the diagnostic approach, the evolving histologic criteria, and treatment options and outcome for feline patients with this syndrome.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x12451548