Michelle, I archive the FIP list in my own folder, I searched "granulomas" and following are some links and information that came up in past posts. If you would like me to search any other key words, just holler.
Hugs, Beth Here is a link to the diagnostic profile of dry FIP: http://www.dr-addie.com/WhatIsFIP.htm#Non-effusive%20("dry")%20FIP% 20profile If you have ever had a cold sore or seen someone with one, it is a hole in the surface of the lip. A granulomas is similar. These holes in organs are dry FIP, these holes in the vascular system, or intestines cause "wet" FIP, because the fluid seeps out through the holes. This is a very crude description, but I hope it helps you understand what condition your cat is in. You can find a comprehensive description on granulomas through the following link (see WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE FELINE ENTERIC CORONAVIRUS? and WHAT KIND OF TESTING IS AVAILABLE? Tissue Biopsy): http://www.marvistavet.com/html/fip.html You can find some info on FIP and lymph nodes through the following links: http://www.lbah.com/feline/fip.html see Histopathology http://www.lbah.com/lymphnode.htm don't look too much to the pictures http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1376&articleid=219 http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/56900.htm Dr. Addie's dry FIP profile: "A cat with dry FIP should have a high FCoV antibody titre, be hyperglobulinaemic and have a reduced albumin:globulin ratio. He or she should have a high AGP, lymphopenia (reduction of lymphocytes), a haematocrit of less than 30% which is non-regenerative and possibly a neutrophilia (increase of neutrophils). Clinically, the cat should have lost weight and will usually have ocular signs such as iritis, retinal vessel cuffing, keratic precipitates, aqueous or vitreous flare. Albumin:Globulin ratio (A:G) In FIP the globulin concentration in serum or plasma is raised to over 40g/l. Consequently the A:G is usually lowered. An A:G of < 0.4 indicates FIP is quite likely, provided that globulins are raised, remember than a low albumin (e.g. in liver disease) can also artificially lower the A:G. An A:G of >0.8 rules out FIP; A:G of between 0.4-0.8 - consider other parameters." The A:G ratio of Jack is 0.2, which is extremely low and very indicative for FIP. The lymphocytes are low and the neutrophils high. There is some good news though: I don't see any liver and kidney parameters which probably means that his organs are not affected (yet). Maybe hematocrit is called HCT in your blood panel report? Some labs consider 25% still as normal, see below info: "Packed Cell Volume This is a measurement of anaemia. PCV is sometimes referred to as haematocrit or HCT, although they are not quite the same thing. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) measures the ratio of red blood cells to total blood volume. The blood is spun in a centrifugal machine and your vet measures the total number of cells that are left. Haematocrit (HCT) actually refers to the red cells that are left only; but since the other blood cells (white cells and platelets) usually make up less than 1% of blood volume, the difference between PCV and HCT is too small to be concerned about. Only a small amount of blood is needed for these tests (although more blood is needed for HCT than for PCV) and many vets have the necessary equipment in their offices so you can get a result in a few minutes. Technically, a cat is anaemic if his/her PCV level is below 30% (or with some labs, 25%), but you may not start to see any differences in your cat's behaviour until the level is closer to 20%. Dehydration will make PCV look higher than it really is, so once a cat is rehydrated, PCV will often have fallen." You can find comprehensive info on interpreting lab result through the following links: http://www.felinecrf.org/diagnosis.htm#BCP http://www.felinecrf.org/diagnosis.htm#CBC
