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Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK)

General description

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency manifests as an hemolytic anemia of variable severity with a strong regenerative response. Affected cats can have a normal life span, only intermittently have anemia, and do not seem to develop either osteosclerosis or liver failure. The clinical signs of disease reflect the anemic status of the animal and include exercise intolerance, weakness, heart murmur and splenomegaly.

Breeds

Abyssinian, Bengal (Leopard cat), Egyptian Mau, European Shorthair, LaPerm Longhair, LaPerm Shorthair, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ocicat, Savannah, Siberian, Singapura, Somali, Turkish Angora

Order details
Test number8047
AbbreviationPK
Sample material0.5 ml EDTA blood, 2x cheek swab, 1x special swab (eNAT)
Test duration3-14 working days
Test specifications
Symptom complexhematologic
Inheritanceautosomal recessive
Causalitycausally
GenePKLR
MutationG-A
LiteratureOMIA:000844-9685
Detailed description

Pyruvate kinase (PK) is an enzyme critical to the anaerobic glycolytic pathway of energy production in the erythrocyte. If erythrocytes are deficient in PK they are unable to sustain normal cell metabolism and hence are destroyed prematurely. This deficiency manifests as an hemolytic anemia of variable severity with a strong regenerative response. The feline disease differs from the canine disease in that affected cats can have a normal life span, only intermittently have anemia, and do not seem to develop either osteosclerosis or liver failure. The clinical signs of disease reflect the anemic status of the animal and include exercise intolerance, weakness, heart murmur and splenomegaly.