Thrombocytosis in 158 cats (2011-2018)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Thrombocytosis, a condition of elevated platelet counts, is well-documented in humans and dogs but less understood in cats.
• Identifying underlying causes of thrombocytosis in felines is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
• This study aims to characterize thrombocytosis in cats based on disease etiology and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify feline thrombocytosis by underlying disease processes and severity.
• To compare the prevalence of different diseases in cats with thrombocytosis versus a control group.
• To investigate the association between thrombocytosis severity and its causes in cats.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed medical records of cats with thrombocytosis (platelet count >600 × 10^3/µl) and age-matched controls (200–600 × 10^3/µl) from 2011 to 2018.
• Platelet counts were estimated via blood smear assessment.
• Diagnoses were broadly categorized into neoplasia, endocrine, or inflammatory diseases, with severity classified as mild, moderate, or marked.

Main Results:

• 158 cats had thrombocytosis, compared to 315 controls.
• Gastrointestinal diseases were significantly more common in cats with thrombocytosis (75.6%) than controls (34.5%).
• Neoplasia was diagnosed more frequently in cats with thrombocytosis (44.3%) versus controls (25.4%), with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal and multicentric lymphoma.

Conclusions:

• Feline thrombocytosis is frequently associated with gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and immune-mediated diseases.
• Neoplasia, particularly lymphoma, is a significant finding in cats with thrombocytosis.
• No correlation was found between the severity of thrombocytosis and its underlying cause.