| InterpretationIncreased serum ALT and AST
activities indicate enzyme leakage from damaged liver cells. Increased serum alkaline
phosphatase, GGT, and bilirubin values indicate biliary stasis from intrahepatic
obstruction of the bile ducts. Although serum bile acid levels are increased, it is
usually unnecessary to perform this assay because bilirubinemia is apparent.
The WBC count is usually normal or shows a stress response. A normal blood glucose level rules out diabetes mellitus as a cause of hepatic lipidosis. Differential Diagnoses • Cholangitis: usually occurs in a thin cat, no lipid droplets in hepatocytes on liver biopsies • FeLV-related liver disease: may have positive FeLV test, liver biopsy can show many immature lymphocytes • Diabetes mellitus: high blood glucose level • Primary hepatic tumors: liver biopsy shows fibrosis and neoplastic cells; ultrasonographic examination shows hypoechoic areas with abnormal architecture |
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