Occurrence of idiopathic, familial hyperchylomicronaemia in a cat

Abstract

Primary hyperlipoproteinaemia (hyperchylomicronaemia with slight very low density lipoprotein elevation) is described in two related male cats. Fasting hyperlipaemia, lipaemia retinalis and subcutaneous xanthomas were detected on clinical examination. In one cat lipoprotein lipase activity measured after heparin activation was significantly reduced compared to the response in a normal cat. The lipid and protein concentration in each of the lipoprotein classes and the lipoprotein distribution of the two hyperlipaemic cats, two normolipaemic relations and 16 normolipaemic adult cats were determined. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were elevated in the hyperlipaemic cats with the major proportion of triglyceride and cholesterol being present in chylomicrons whereas in normolipaemic cats the majority of triglyceride was contained in very low density lipoprotein. High density lipoprotein was the predominant lipid carrier in both the normolipaemic and the hyperlipaemic cats but the protein content in chylomicrons was elevated in the two affected cats. The lipoprotein distribution in normal cats in this study agrees with previously reported values. The hyperlipaemic cats showed many of the features of familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (type I hyperlipoproteinaemia, exogenous chylomicronaemia) which is an inherited disease in man.

A mutation in the lipoprotein lipase gene is the molecular basis of chylomicronemia in a colony of domestic cats.

“…Members of a naturally occurring, inbred colony of cats presented with chylomicronemia (8), which raised the possibility that these cats may be suffering from LPL deficiency. Biochemical analysis indeed revealed that these cats do have a deficiency of plasma LPL catalytic activity, yet possess normal function of the LPL cofactor, apo CII (9).…”

Cutaneous xanthomas with concurrent demodicosis and dermatophytosis in a cat

“…The only well-documented primary lipid disorder in cats is a familial hypertriglyceridaemia, for which clinical signs typically begin at 8 to 9-months-of-age, and respond well to a low fat diet. 7,19,22 Elevations in both cholesterol and triglycerides are consistent with familial primary hypertriglyceridaemia documented in cats, 7 and although triglyceride levels frequently respond well to dietary fat restriction in lipid disorders, cholesterol levels usually do not. 1 Primary hypercholesterolaemia is unreported in cats, and hypercholesterolaemia is typically not associated with xanthoma formation in humans, dogs or cats.…”

“…14,17,[20][21][22] Resolution in this cat was delayed until after 20 weeks on the low-fat diet, however concurrent glucocorticoid therapy was only discontinued 6 weeks prior to resolution, and may have influenced the occurrence of both demodicosis and dermatophytosis, and contributed to the slow resolution of hyperlipidaemia and xanthomas.…”

“…5,9 Xanthomas are reported rarely in veterinary literature, however they have been documented in birds, 3 reptiles, 10,11 horses, 12 a dog, 13 and domestic cats. 4,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] They are an uncommon manifestation of hyperlipidaemia in animals and humans, although when present are highly specific cutaneous markers for disorders of lipid metabolism. 1,2 In the cat, they have been reported with familial, 7,19,22 and suspected familial, 17,18 primary hypertriglyceridaemia, suspected primary hyperlipidaemia exacerbated by high-fat dietary supplements 14 and secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia including diabetes mellitus, 20,21 glucocorticoid therapy, 15 and progesterone therapy.…”

“…4,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] They are an uncommon manifestation of hyperlipidaemia in animals and humans, although when present are highly specific cutaneous markers for disorders of lipid metabolism. 1,2 In the cat, they have been reported with familial, 7,19,22 and suspected familial, 17,18 primary hypertriglyceridaemia, suspected primary hyperlipidaemia exacerbated by high-fat dietary supplements 14 and secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia including diabetes mellitus, 20,21 glucocorticoid therapy, 15 and progesterone therapy. 20 Only one case of idiopathic cutaneous xanthoma, associated with normal serum lipid levels, has been reported in the cat.…”