Introduction
- An idiopathic chronic inflammatory disease of small and/or large intestine
. - Cause : unknown; immune-mediated sensitivity to range of possible antigens, eg diet, parasite, bacteria etc.
- Signs : vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.
- Diagnosis : intestinal biopsy and histopathology, (infiltration of lamina propria by lymphocytes and plasmacytes).
- Treatment : diet and immunosuppression.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Thickened intestinal loops.
- Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes.
- Symmetric alopecia.
- Poor body condition + haircoat.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
- Other causes of diarrhea
. - Other causes of vomiting
. - Intestinal neoplasia
, see lymphoma
. - Renal failure
. - Neoplasia of other systems.
- Hyperthyroidism
. - Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
. - Toxemia.
- Hepatic disease
. - Eosinophilic enteritis.
- Lymphangiectasia.
- Dysphagia/swallowing disorders.
- Chronic vomiting/regurgitation.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
- Drug therapy.
- Gluten sensitive enteropathy.
Often intercurrent IBD, pancreatitis and liver disease (cholangiohepatitis in cats). /li>
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Fair.
- May need life-long treatment.
Expected response to treatment
- Resolution of clinical signs within 1-2 weeks of treatment starting.
- Weight gain over 4-8 weeks.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Dietary indiscretion in some cases.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Guilford G Wet al(2001)Food sensitivity in cats with chronic idiopathic gastrointestinal problems.JVIM15(1), 7-13.
- Simpson K Wet al(2001)Subnormal concentrations of serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) in cats with gastrointestinal disease.JVIM15(1), 26-32.
- Weiss D J, Gagne J M & Armstrong P J (1996)Relationship between inflammatory hepatic disease and inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and nephritis in cats.JAVMA209(6), 1114-1116.
- Yamasaki Ket al(1996)Comparison of gastric and duodenal lesions in dogs and cats with and without lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis.JAVMA209(1), 95-97.
- Edwards D Fet al(1987)Probable vitamin K-deficient bleeding in two cats with malabsorption syndrome secondary to lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis.J Vet Intern Med1(3), 97-101.
- Willard M Det al(1985)Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis in a cat.JAVMA186(2), 181-182.



