Dave B
Surprising Blood Test Results
Surprising Blood Test Results
We just got back a blood test on our cat Nola, (16 year old female DSH). Much to our surprise, the results are terrible. SGPT is 480 IU/L; SGOT is 494 IU/L; CK 1059 IU/L; Creatinine is 3.3 mg/dl; just to name a few. The scary thing about this is we just had her blood work done in January and these values were all in the normal range. She tested negative for FeLV and FIP. We made an appointment at Tuft’s University Hosp. on Monday for further evaluation, but I was hoping in the mean time for any help or comments as to what could have caused such a rapid deterioration in her. The reason we decided to get the blood test again is because she was in for a teeth cleaning and it seemed like she was drinking more water than usual. Otherwise, she doesn’t seem sick at all, is still quite active and can still take the stairs two steps at a time. Thanks
Dave B
Dave B
Re: Surprising Blood Test Results
Dave,
Not sure what your vet is telling you, but I'm not sure I would be terribly concerned aobut the CK unless it is consistently high with the AST (SGOT) upon another recheck on these enzymes. If this occurs, you might want to evaluate heart function. Otherwise, this could be muscle or skeletal injury, or even a result of a recent injection. The CK might also be indicative of recent activity or rigorous exercise, can also be remarkably high if hemolysis occurs during handling/testing of the sample. Did your vet say anything about potential arthritis?
As for the ALT (SGPT), while it is high, it may be stress at the time of the blood draw, it should be used in combination with other liver enzymes to determine liver function. If she has been vomiting, losing weight, severely dehydrated or a combination of similar symptoms, you'd want to investigate further into liver disease.
The creatinine is high, and you want to investigate dehydration concerns, and keep a close eye on this and the BUN in the coming weeks. Maybe discuss her diet and try a temporary low-protein/low sodium diet (canned if possible) until the next scheduled blood recheck to determine any changes. Again, if vomiting, weight loss or severe dehydration are symptoms, you want to recheck all these enzymes again soon, particularly liver and kidney function, more likely kidney function at this point...and you want to ensure she is properly hydrated. At this time, try to monitor her urine output, and if abnormal, notify your vet about that right away.
So, you will probably want to talk about early kidney disease and/or heart disease (should get an x-ray to determine size/shape of kidneys, size of heart, look for right or left-sided enlargement, any pleural effusion, etc). Also take a closer look at glucose levels, combine with urine glucose if this hasn't been done yet. Not saying either condition is eminent, just want to stay one step ahead and recheck these enzymes soon to determine any changes that might warrant treatment.
Assuming a CBC was done, was there anything abnormal there, such as suspected infection, anemia, etc?
Not sure what your vet is telling you, but I'm not sure I would be terribly concerned aobut the CK unless it is consistently high with the AST (SGOT) upon another recheck on these enzymes. If this occurs, you might want to evaluate heart function. Otherwise, this could be muscle or skeletal injury, or even a result of a recent injection. The CK might also be indicative of recent activity or rigorous exercise, can also be remarkably high if hemolysis occurs during handling/testing of the sample. Did your vet say anything about potential arthritis?
As for the ALT (SGPT), while it is high, it may be stress at the time of the blood draw, it should be used in combination with other liver enzymes to determine liver function. If she has been vomiting, losing weight, severely dehydrated or a combination of similar symptoms, you'd want to investigate further into liver disease.
The creatinine is high, and you want to investigate dehydration concerns, and keep a close eye on this and the BUN in the coming weeks. Maybe discuss her diet and try a temporary low-protein/low sodium diet (canned if possible) until the next scheduled blood recheck to determine any changes. Again, if vomiting, weight loss or severe dehydration are symptoms, you want to recheck all these enzymes again soon, particularly liver and kidney function, more likely kidney function at this point...and you want to ensure she is properly hydrated. At this time, try to monitor her urine output, and if abnormal, notify your vet about that right away.
So, you will probably want to talk about early kidney disease and/or heart disease (should get an x-ray to determine size/shape of kidneys, size of heart, look for right or left-sided enlargement, any pleural effusion, etc). Also take a closer look at glucose levels, combine with urine glucose if this hasn't been done yet. Not saying either condition is eminent, just want to stay one step ahead and recheck these enzymes soon to determine any changes that might warrant treatment.
Assuming a CBC was done, was there anything abnormal there, such as suspected infection, anemia, etc?
..........Traci
Re: Surprising Blood Test Results
Hi Traci
I didn’t want to overload you with the results, but here are the rest of the ones that were out of range:
Above the range: Phosphatase 71; SGPT 480; AGOT 494; CK 1059; BUN 52; Creatinine 3.3; Monocytes 6
Below range: Potassium 3.8; RBC 4.81; HGB 6.7; HCT 21.2; Lymphocytes 13; Absolute lymphocyte 897;
Also Reticulocyte and Absolute reticulocyte were both 0
She does suffer from a little arthritis in her hips for which we are giving her Cosequin, one pill a day. Her weight is good, about 8 ½ lbs and we’ve been measuring her water intake, which runs 7 – 8 oz/day. She seems to have no problem peeing or pooping. She has not vomited at all. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was healthy.
Our vet was very concerned about either liver or kidney failure and that’s why he’s sending us out to Tuft’s for their opinion. I guess I’m just hoping in the back of my mind that this blood test somehow got messed up.
Thanks for all your help
Dave B
I didn’t want to overload you with the results, but here are the rest of the ones that were out of range:
Above the range: Phosphatase 71; SGPT 480; AGOT 494; CK 1059; BUN 52; Creatinine 3.3; Monocytes 6
Below range: Potassium 3.8; RBC 4.81; HGB 6.7; HCT 21.2; Lymphocytes 13; Absolute lymphocyte 897;
Also Reticulocyte and Absolute reticulocyte were both 0
She does suffer from a little arthritis in her hips for which we are giving her Cosequin, one pill a day. Her weight is good, about 8 ½ lbs and we’ve been measuring her water intake, which runs 7 – 8 oz/day. She seems to have no problem peeing or pooping. She has not vomited at all. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was healthy.
Our vet was very concerned about either liver or kidney failure and that’s why he’s sending us out to Tuft’s for their opinion. I guess I’m just hoping in the back of my mind that this blood test somehow got messed up.
Thanks for all your help
Dave B
Re: Surprising Blood Test Results
Well, it's possible that the bloodwork was slightly off due to hemolysis, or if the clinician mishandled the sample or didn't centrifuge it right away. While rare, this does sometimes occur.
However, given her age, it's also possible that early kidney disease might be surfacing, nothing you could do to prevent that, it is common with age. You've been exceptional getting her bloodwork checked on a regular basis, so IF the kidneys are compromised, you will be one step ahead, and can treat it to help slow the progression. Let's not jump the gun just yet, see what Tuft's has to say and go from there. I think at least, you might want to talk to them about adjusting her diet, at least on a temporary basis until the enzymes are in a more normal range.
Hang in there Dave, let us know what you find out on Monday...
However, given her age, it's also possible that early kidney disease might be surfacing, nothing you could do to prevent that, it is common with age. You've been exceptional getting her bloodwork checked on a regular basis, so IF the kidneys are compromised, you will be one step ahead, and can treat it to help slow the progression. Let's not jump the gun just yet, see what Tuft's has to say and go from there. I think at least, you might want to talk to them about adjusting her diet, at least on a temporary basis until the enzymes are in a more normal range.
Hang in there Dave, let us know what you find out on Monday...
..........Traci