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Line 4: |
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| ==Signalment== | | ==Signalment== |
− | Young to middle-aged cats. | + | Young to middle-aged cats, 50% under 4 years old. |
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| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | Lymphocytic cholangitis is a slowly progressive chronic disease characterised by infiltration of the portal areas of the liver with small lymphocytes. Although an immune-mediated aetiology has been postulated, the disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications. | + | Lymphocytic cholangitis is a slowly progressive chronic disease characterised by infiltration of the portal areas of the liver with inflammatory cells, mostly small lymphocytes. Although an immune-mediated aetiology has been postulated, the disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications. It is rarely associated with pancreatitis. |
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| ==Diagnosis== | | ==Diagnosis== |
| ===Clinical Signs=== | | ===Clinical Signs=== |
− | History of chronic waxing and waning low-grade illness. Vague clinical signs which include anorexia, depression, weight loss, intermittent vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice. Severe illness and pyrexia less likely compared to [[Neutrophilic Cholangitis]]. Some cats in the UK are polyphagic and are frequently presented with ascites and/or jaundice. | + | *History of chronic waxing and waning low-grade illness. |
| + | *Vague clinical signs which may include |
| + | **anorexia |
| + | **depression, weight loss, intermittent vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice, lynphadeno |
| + | *Severe illness and pyrexia less likely compared to [[Neutrophilic Cholangitis]]. |
| + | *Some cats in the UK are polyphagic and are frequently presented with ascites and/or jaundice. |
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| ===Haematology & Biochemistry=== | | ===Haematology & Biochemistry=== |
− | Over half of the cats have marked hyperglobulinaemia
| + | *Increased ALP, increased ALT, hyperbilirubinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia |
− | Neutrophilia is less common than with acute cholangitis | + | *Neutrophilia is less common than with acute cholangitis |
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| ===Imaging=== | | ===Imaging=== |