Distinguishing Recovery from Remission in FIP
In collaboration with, and as co-author alongside, Dr. Diane Addie, we investigated key markers that can confirm when a cat has fully recovered from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). FIP is a devastating and often fatal viral disease. Dr. Addie is one of the leading experts in the field and serves on the Advisory Board for Cat Diseases (ABCD).
One of the major challenges in treating FIP is determining whether a cat is genuinely recovering or merely in temporary remission. Dr. Addie conducted an observational study demonstrating that monitoring alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels offers a valuable method for distinguishing true recovery from chronic coronavirus disease, using acute phase protein profiling.
A study published in Viruses in April 2022 supports this approach, indicating that a sustained return of AGP to normal levels is the most reliable indicator separating recovery from remission in cats undergoing treatment for FIP. This retrospective observational study of 42 cats found that commonly used parameters—such as anemia, hyperglobulinemia, feline coronavirus antibody titres, and lymphopenia—were less consistent in determining when treatment could safely be discontinued.
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