Utilization of peripheral glucose and lactate differences in the diagnosis of feline arterial thromboembolism: a multi-center study

Objective: To establish lactate and glucose differences between affected and non-affected limbs in cats with feline arterial thromboembolism (FATE). To evaluate the correlation between these values and survival to discharge as well as congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Blood glucose and lactate concentrations were prospectively obtained on admission from client-owned FATE cats and client-owned cats presented for other conditions. The glucose and lactate concentrations of the front limbs (or non-affected) and the hind limbs (or affected) were measured. Lactate (Δlactate) and glucose (Δglucose) differences between the two limbs were calculated.

Results: The FATE group and control groups included 18 and 41 cats, respectively. The median age of the cats within the FATE group and control groups was 9.5 years and 5 years, respectively. The median Δlactate was significantly higher in the FATE group than in the control group (7.2 mmol/L versus 0.1 mmol/L, respectively; p ≤ 0.01). The median Δglucose was significantly higher in the FATE group than in the control group (155 mg/dL versus 3 mg/dL, respectively; p ≤ 0.01). A diagnosis of FATE was made using a ∆lactate cutoff of 2.2 mmol/L (100% sensitivity and 95% specificity) or a ∆glucose cutoff of 41 mg/dL (100% sensitivity and specificity). There was no correlation between Δlactate and Δglucose and survival to discharge. A higher ∆glucose was significantly associated with concurrent CHF (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: Both Δlactate and Δglucose were accurate diagnostic tools for cats with FATE. Neither were correlated with survival to discharge. Higher Δglucose values were significantly associated with the presence of CHF.