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Objectives To determine the prevalence of stress hyperglycaemia in sick cats, and to investigate the association of stress hyperglycaemia with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and outcome. Materials and Methods Medical records (2004 to 2013) from sick cats admitted to the Medicine Unit of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were enrolled if a serum glucose measurement and a complete medical record were available. Cats that were healthy, hypoglycaemic, diabetic, sedated or had a previous administration of drugs (apart from vaccination and deworming) were excluded. Results The study included 647 cats; stress hyperglycaemia (serum glucose >8.3 mmol/L) was found in 194 (30%) cats, while 453 (70%) cats were normoglycaemic. The prevalence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was significantly higher in cats with stress hyperglycaemia (25/174, 14.4%) compared to normoglycaemic cats (26/399, 6.5%). Significantly, more cats with stress hyperglycaemia were hospitalised [97/194 (50.0%)] compared to normoglycaemic cats [171/453 (37.7%)]. However, the median duration of hospitalisation was not significantly different [4 (1 to 26) days and 4 (1 to 24) days, respectively]. The prevalence of cats with negative outcome was not significantly different between the two groups (cats with stress hyperglycaemia: 37.1%, normoglycaemic cats: 33.9%). Nonetheless, when modelling of outcome prediction included breed, age, stress hyperglycaemia and disease category as factors, cats with stress hyperglycaemia had 2.8 times the odds to have a negative outcome (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 6.4). Clinical Significance Based on the cut‐off employed in this study, Stress hyperglycaemia, as defined by the cut‐off is common in sick cats. Stress hyperglycaemia is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome development and seem to be a negative prognostic indicator.

In order to evaluate the Influence of diabetes mellitus on peritoneal membrane permeability, we studied the peritoneal protein loss In two groups of patients. Group A consisted of 16 patients (9 nondlabetics and 7 diabetics) who were In the first month of treatment on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO). Group B consisted of 13 patients (7 nondlabetics and 6 diabetics) who had been on CAPO for approximately 15 months. In both groups we measured the body weight, serum total protein, albumin, and total protein, urea, and glucose In the peritoneal fluid. We did not find any difference In groups A and B between diabetics and nondlabetics as far as the estimated parameters were concerned. Age, body weight, serum biochemistry, and protein and urea content In peritoneal fluid were similar, when group A was compared to group B. Patients of group B hed on average higher protein losses than those who had been on the method for a short period (mean 7.9 g/dL, vs 6.09 g/dL). Six patients were followed for over 15 months and were found to have significantly Increased protein losses (p=0.02). Glucose levels In peritoneal fluid were significantly lower In patients In group B, p<0.05 (mean 51.8 g/dL vs 37.1 g/dL). Peritoneal protein loss does not seem to differ between diabetic and nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal disease treated with CAPO, at any given time of the treatment. We observed an Increase In protein loss In some patients and a tendency to Increase the protein loss In others. This, along with the fall In glucose levels, might reflect progressive alterations In structure and permeability of the elements Involved In peritoneal transport, and It should receive further evaluation.

A 2.5-year-old girl was admitted due to splenomegaly and pancytopenia. Laboratory analysis revealed pancytopenia and hypergammaglobulinemia, and due to the absence of fever and the relevant clinical and hematological presentation the child was initially suspected for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Bone marrow aspiration displayed macrophages and extracellular space containing Leishmania amastigotes. Visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis due to Leishmania infantum was confirmed by the presence of high titers of Leishmania antibodies and by PCR. The patient was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B but during the third post-treatment day significant increases in the levels of serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and phosphate were registered. The child was successfully treated with hydration and urine alkalization and resulted in full recovery of the metabolic abnormalities.