Classification of Septic Shock Phenotypes Based on the Presence of Hypotension and Hyperlactatemia in Cats.

Three different phenotypes of septic shock based on changes in blood pressure and lactate are recognized in people. Dysoxic shock, representing the combination of fluid-refractory hypotension and hyperlactatemia, is characterized by greater disease severity and mortality compared to cryptic shock (hyperlactatemia alone) and vasoplegic shock (hypotension with normal blood lactate). Little is known about septic shock and specifically its phenotypes in cats.

Cytokine and Chemokine Profiling in Cats With Sepsis and Septic Shock.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition associated with an exacerbated production of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that can promote a hyperactive response to infection or induce immunoparalysis. Data regarding the immune response to sepsis in cats are scarce. Establishing the profiles of cytokines and chemokines in feline sepsis to characterize the nature of the immune responses to sepsis might enable individualized treatments to be developed and targeted.

Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome in feline sepsis: prevalence and prognostic implication.

Objectives: The current study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in cats with sepsis.

Methods: Cats hospitalised in the intensive care unit of a veterinary university hospital with a diagnosis of sepsis were prospectively enrolled and divided according to disease severity and outcome (survivors; non-survivors). The feline acute patient physiological and laboratory evaluation (APPLE) scores were calculated upon admission, as previously described.