Assessment of serum pancreatic ( DGGR ‐) lipase concentrations in equids with gastrointestinal disease

Abstract

Summary Background Pancreatitis is a poorly understood condition in the horse. The DGGR‐lipase assay has recently been validated for horses. Objectives To evaluate serum DGGR‐lipase concentrations in equids presented to an equine hospital in the United Kingdom with gastrointestinal disease. Study design Prospective descriptive. Methods Blood samples were obtained by convenience sampling of horses and donkeys presented for evaluation of gastrointestinal disease. Results Serum pancreatic ( DGGR ‐) lipase concentrations were measured in 205 equids with gastrointestinal disease, of which 147 survived, 47 were euthanised and 11 died. The median serum pancreatic lipase concentration in all animals was 17 U/L ( IQR 14–27; range 1–3484). The lipase concentration was categorised as normal in 124 animals (60.5%) and elevated in 81 (39.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in the disease category and pancreatic lipase concentration ( p < 0.001), with colic cases having higher lipase concentrations than colitis and peritonitis cases. There was strong evidence ( p = 0.01) of an association between pain severity and lipase values, with higher lipase concentrations in horses with more severe pain. Of 12 horses with severely increased pancreatic lipase concentration (>200 U/L), 3/12 had spontaneous nasogastric reflux and 6/10 had distended and/or thickened small intestine on abdominal ultrasonography; 7/12 survived to hospital discharge and 5/12 died or were euthanised. Main limitations We were unable to confirm the presence of pancreatitis in any of the horses with elevated serum DGGR‐lipase concentrations by post‐mortem examination or histopathology. Conclusions Some equids with gastrointestinal disease have increased serum pancreatic (DGGR‐) lipase concentrations, especially those with colic. This suggests that a degree of pancreatitis may be present in many colic cases, although this does not indicate causation.