Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine and feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity.
- Journal:
- Veterinary clinical pathology
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Xenoulis, Panagiotis G & Steiner, Jörg M
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
Plain-English summary
Diagnosing pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, in dogs and cats can be tricky. While there are various tests available, many are not very reliable or require invasive procedures. Recently developed blood tests that measure pancreatic lipase (a substance related to the pancreas) have proven to be the most effective for diagnosing this condition in pets. However, it's important to remember that these tests can sometimes give incorrect results, so they should be used alongside a thorough history, physical exam, and ultrasound of the pancreas for the best chance of an accurate diagnosis. Overall, these newer tests are currently the best option for identifying pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
Abstract
The 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 (cPLI for dogs and fPLI for cats) were first developed over a decade ago and now include Spec cPL and SNAP cPL for dogs and Spec fPL and SNAP fPL for cats. Owing to their high sensitivity and specificity for pancreatitis compared with those of other serum tests, concentrations of cPLI and fPLI have 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22861648/