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. 2017 Nov;31(6):1673-1679.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.14850. Epub 2017 Sep 27.

Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Esophagitis in Cats

M I Kouki  1 , S A Papadimitriou  1 , D Psalla  2 , A Kolokotronis  3 , T S Rallis  4
Affiliations

Chronic Gingivostomatitis with Esophagitis in Cats

M I Kouki et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Chronic gingivostomatitis in cats (FCG) is a debilitating disease with potentially deleterious effects on overall health.

Hypothesis/objectives: Little is known about the pathophysiology and overall impact of FCG. The aims of our study were to investigate whether gingivostomatitis occurs concurrently with esophagitis, if FCG treatment contributes to esophagitis and if esophagitis exacerbates signs of FCG.

Animals: Fifty-eight cats with clinical signs of FCG and 12 healthy control cats exhibiting no signs of oral disease, all client-owned.

Methods: Prospective study. Physical, oral and endoscopic examinations were performed on all cats. Measurements of salivary and esophageal lumen pH were obtained from both groups. Biopsies were acquired from sites of esophageal inflammation in cats with FCG and from normal-appearing esophageal mucosa in control cats.

Results: The majority of cats with clinical signs of FCG exhibited some degree of esophagitis especially in the proximal (44/58) and distal (53/58) parts (P < 0.001) with or without columnar metaplasia, compared to controls. All cats lacked signs related to gastrointestinal disease. Salivary and esophageal lumen pH were not statistically different compared to controls.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis seems to occur concurrently with esophagitis. Esophagitis also should be managed in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis because it may aggravate the existing condition.

Keywords: Cat; Esophageal metaplasia; Esophagitis; Oral mucosa inflammation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Endoscopic appearance of esophagitis:1st, normal and 2nd degree in the proximal, middle and distal part, respectively (same animal). Pathological sites are noted with an asterisk (*).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Upper esophagus, lined by squamous epithelium (arrows). Lamina propria is severely infiltrated by mixed inflammatory population (arrowheads) (neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells). Hematoxylin‐eosin, magnification ×400.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Replacement of the normal squamous by columnar epithelium (arrows) in the distal esophagus. Gastric glands (arrowheads) are also present. Hematoxylin‐eosin, magnification ×100.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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