COLORADO STATE CLINICAL TRIAL: FELINE PANCREATITIS AND MRI STUDIES
Who qualifies?
Cats with clinical signs attributable to pancreatitis, such as vomiting, anorexia, and/or blood work and physical examination findings consistent with pancreatitis. Concurrent diseases such as abdominal neoplasia or gastrointestinal foreign body would be reasons for exclusion from the study.
What is the study about?
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in cats is increasingly recognized as a common and important disease associated with significant clinical signs and even death. Pancreatitis is often difficult to diagnose with current imaging examinations and blood tests. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study called magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is considered to be an accurate imaging method for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders in people. This noninvasive test can provide an accurate image of liver, gall bladder, bile ducts, pancreas, and pancreatic duct for the diagnosis of multiple disorders of the liver and pancreas. MRCP is a new but very promising technique for use in veterinary medicine. We have successfully used MRI/MRCP in normal cats and a pilot study of cats suspected to have liver and or pancreatic disease, and a similar protocol will be used for the cats enrolled in this study. MRI and abdominal ultrasound will be performed on each cat followed by biopsy of the pancreas using a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique to confirm the accuracy of these imaging studies. MR/MRCP is expected to have improved accuracy in diagnosing pancreatitis in cats. Having MRI and biopsies performed in your cat will help define your cat’s problem and will assist your veterinarian in the appropriate clinical management of your cat.
What does the study involve?
Each cat will receive an abdominal ultrasound, MR abdominal imaging study (under general anesthesia), laparoscopy and biopsies of the pancreas (under the same anesthetic episode), and fPLI test. These tests will help direct the clinician to appropriate diagnosis and therapy of your cat’s condition. If you cat has concurrent liver disease, we will be able to assess the liver with ultrasound, MRI and biopsy as well.
What are the risks?
These procedures have been previously performed in healthy cats and cats with pancreatitis, who have had no major complications. However, there is always a risk in general anesthesia or complications associated with pancreatic biopsies. Your cat; however, will be carefully monitored for any potential complications. Prior to general anesthesia and laparoscopy, clinicians will determine through physical examination and bloodwork if your cat is healthy enough for these procedures. It is important to know that if your cat experiences any of these complications, we are unfortunately unable to cover the cost of this event.
Financial incentives:
The costs of the abdominal ultrasound, MRI abdominal imaging examination, laparoscopy fees, histology/biopsies, and fPLI test will be covered by the study.
To enroll:
Interested participants can learn more by contacting Dr. Angela Marolf or Dr. David Twedt; (970) 297-
5000.
Shared from http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/veterinarians/clinical-trials/Pages/default.aspx#feline