Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pancreatic lipase tests for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs and cats
By Xenoulis, Panagiotis G. & Steiner, Jörg M.·Published in Veterinary Clinical Pathology·2012·Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University College Station TX USA, United States·View original on Crossref →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Canine and feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity
Plain-English summary
A dog or cat showing signs of pancreatitis, like vomiting, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite, can be tricky to diagnose. New tests that measure pancreatic lipase levels in the blood (cPLI for dogs and fPLI for cats) have become the best way to help identify this condition. These tests are sensitive and specific, meaning they can accurately indicate pancreatitis, but they can still give false results sometimes. For the most reliable diagnosis, vets recommend combining these blood tests with a thorough history, physical exam, and ultrasound of the pancreas.
People also search for: dog vomiting pancreatitis treatment · cat abdominal pain diagnosis · how to test for pancreatitis in pets
Abstract
AbstractThe diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats can be challenging. Several diagnostic tests have been evaluated over the years, but the majority have been shown to be of limited utility owing to poor performance or limited availability or because invasive procedures are required. Assays for the measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLIfor dogs andfPLIfor cats) were first developed over a decade ago and now include SpeccPLand SNAPcPLfor dogs and SpecfPLand SNAPfPLfor cats. Owing to their high sensitivity and specificity for pancreatitis compared with those of other serum tests, concentrations ofcPLIandfPLIhave been demonstrated to be the serum tests of choice for evaluation of dogs and cats, respectively, suspected of having pancreatitis. False–positive and false–negative results can occur, and recognition of the limitations of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity assays is important. As there is currently no gold standard for antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats, the combination of a complete history and physical examination, measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, and ultrasonographic examination of the pancreas is the best approach for an accurate noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatitis.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-165x.2012.00458.x