Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pancreatic lipase levels in healthy dogs and dogs
By Mawby, D I et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine pancreatic-specific lipase concentrations in clinically healthy dogs and dogs with naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), a condition that causes excessive hormone production, had higher levels of pancreatic enzymes in their blood compared to healthy dogs. Specifically, the tests showed that 55% of HAC dogs had positive results for pancreatic lipase, while only 6% of healthy dogs did. This suggests that the tests may not be reliable for diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs with HAC, as they could lead to false positives. It's important for pet owners to discuss these test results with their veterinarian to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.
People also search for: dog pancreatitis symptoms · hyperadrenocorticism in dogs · pancreatic lipase test results in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Specificity of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) assays in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is unknown. HYPOTHESIS: Results of cPLI assays differ for clinically healthy dogs and dogs with HAC. ANIMALS: Seventeen healthy dogs and 20 dogs with HAC diagnosed by ACTH stimulation test results without evidence of clinical pancreatitis. METHODS: Dogs were enrolled between December 2009 and November 2010. Serum cPLI concentrations were determined by quantitative (Spec cPL test, SPEC) and semiquantitative (SNAP cPL test, SNAP) assays. Results were categorized as normal, equivocal, or abnormal (SPEC) or negative or positive (SNAP). Associations between group and cPLI were assessed using Fisher's exact test or the Mann-Whitney U-test. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ) were determined for SNAP and SPEC results. Significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: Spec cPL test concentrations were significantly (P < .001) higher in dogs with HAC (491.1 μg/L) than in healthy dogs (75.2 μg/L), with more abnormal SPEC results in HAC dogs (P < .001). There were more (P = .002) positive SNAP results in dogs with HAC (55%) than in healthy dogs (6%). SNAP and SPEC results were highly correlated (ρ = 0.85; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with HAC had higher SPEC concentrations and more positive SNAP results than clinically healthy dogs with normal ACTH stimulation test results. Specificity of SPEC and SNAP assays in HAC dogs without clinical pancreatitis were 65 and 45%, respectively. Pending further study, SNAP and SPEC results should be interpreted cautiously in dogs with HAC to avoid false diagnosis of concurrent pancreatitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24903625/