Transient hyperlipidaemia and anaemia in kittens

Abstract

Severe fasting hypertriglyceridaemia (5 to 126 mmol/litre) and anaemia (packed cell volume < 11 per cent) was observed in 12 litters of kittens around the time of weaning; the entire litter was usually affected, with significant mortality. Lipid analysis revealed marked increases in chylomicrons and moderate increases in very low density lipoproteins. Supportive measures for the treatment of anaemia and weaning on to a low fat diet resulted in rapid resolution of the clinical signs, anaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. On recovery, plasma was collected from kittens from five of the affected litters, plus a number of closely related cats and unrelated cats living in the same environment. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was mildly but significantly lower in the previously affected kittens, their parents and unaffected siblings, than in the unrelated cats. The cats had normal apolipoprotein C-II function, normal heparin binding activity and no evidence of a circulating inhibitor to LPL. They did not have the LPL gene mutation reported previously in LPL-deficient cats from New Zealand.

Transient hyperlipidemia in a litter of kittens

“…Additionally, reports of kittens with the LPL defect generally experienced clinical signs around 8 months of age, whereas kittens in our case report were transiently affected at 4 weeks of age and recovered to become clinically and biochemically normal well before 8 months of age. Lastly, in all of the clinical reports of kittens in this age group, identical to the one outlined in this case, a LPL gene defect was not present, but rather a decreased LPL activity documented . In people, genetic defects leading to complete absence of LPL activity are rare, and although partial LPL deficiency is more common, it also involves a defect within the gene for LPL .…”

“…Clinical signs may include inappetence, lethargy, peripheral neuropathies, lipid emboli, lipemic retinalis, cutaneous xanthomata, military xanthogranulomata, and death . In addition to these research cats, several case reports have documented young kittens with hyperlipidemia . The genetic etiology appears to be far different from the hyperlipidemia described in this report and elsewhere, with similar clinical signs, concurrent anemia, and flea infestation.…”

“…Numerous case reports of kittens with clinical signs of hyperlipidemia developing between 3 and 8 weeks of age have been reported . The kittens commonly exhibit decreased body weight, anemia, heavy flea burdens, and severely lipemic serum.…”

“…All case reports involving kittens, including the one presented here, used minimally fasted or nonfasted samples, which may lead to erroneous results with elevations of postprandial CM. The largest case series describing hyperlipidemic kittens evaluated 12 litters of kittens . Although numbers were not provided, they found marked increases in CM, moderate increases in VLDL and variable decreases in LDL and HDL levels.…”

“…The most common primary lipid abnormality described in veterinary patients is fasting hypertriglyceridemia in Miniature Schnauzers and Beagles. While familial hyperlipidemia is rare among cats, a primary inherited LPL deficiency leading to hyperchylomicronemia has been well described in the cat and reported once in a mongrel puppy . Secondary hyperlipidemia in veterinary patients has been associated with diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hepatic lipidosis, nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, and steroid administration.…”