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Evaluation of Hemogram-Derived Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Cats
Alper Erturk1, Aliye Sagkan Ozturk1,2, Ramazan Ozdemir3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay 31040, Türkiye.
Insights
This study establishes crucial reference ranges for feline inflammatory markers like the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). These findings aid veterinarians in diagnosing inflammation in cats more accurately.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Hematology
- Clinical Pathology
- Feline Medicine
Background:
- Hematological indices like NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, AISI, and SIRI are valuable indicators of systemic inflammation in veterinary medicine.
- Standardized reference intervals for these inflammatory markers are lacking in clinically healthy cats, hindering accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish baseline reference ranges for key hematological inflammatory indices in cats.
- To provide a framework for improved clinical interpretation and diagnostic assessment in feline practice.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical records from clinically healthy cats.
- Analysis of hematological data to define reference intervals for NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, AISI, and SIRI.
- Sex-based comparison of the analyzed indices.
Main Results:
- Reference intervals were established: NLR (0.8-7.1), MLR (0.1-0.6), PLR (22.7-374.6), SII (130-2454), AISI (39.5-1542.8), and SIRI (0.2-6.1).
- No statistically significant differences were observed between sexes for any of the analyzed indices.
Conclusions:
- The established reference ranges provide a vital clinical framework for interpreting hematological inflammatory markers in feline patients.
- These findings support more accurate and reliable diagnostic assessments for inflammatory conditions in cats.
Abstract:
In the field of veterinary medicine, hematological indices such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), aggregate systemic inflammation index (AISI), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) are increasingly recognized as cost-effective indicators of systemic inflammatory activity. Despite their diagnostic potential, standardized reference intervals for these metrics remain undefined in clinically healthy feline subjects. Consequently, the primary objective of this investigation was to establish baseline reference ranges for these inflammatory ratios in cats, thereby facilitating more accurate clinical interpretations and diagnostic assessments in feline practice. Clinical records were reviewed retrospectively, and cats showing no abnormalities on physical examination and presenting laboratory values within established reference ranges were included in the analysis. Following the sex-based analysis of 88 samples, the reference intervals were defined as follows: 0.8-7.1 for NLR; 0.1-0.6 for MLR; 22.7-374.6 for PLR, 130-2454 for SII, 39.5-1542.8 for AISI, and 0.2-6.1 for SIRI. Comparison by sex did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in any of the analyzed indices. These findings may offer a significant clinical framework for the interpretation of hematological inflammatory markers in feline patients.
