Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Plasma free metanephrine levels in healthy dogs and dogs
By Green, Bradley A & Frank, Elizabeth L·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2013·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of plasma free metanephrines between healthy dogs and 3 dogs with pheochromocytoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs with confirmed pheochromocytoma, a type of tumor that can cause high blood pressure and other health issues, were tested for levels of plasma free metanephrines, which are substances produced by the body in response to stress. The results showed that these dogs had significantly higher levels of metanephrines compared to healthy dogs. This suggests that measuring plasma free metanephrines could be a useful tool for diagnosing pheochromocytoma in dogs. While this is still a preliminary study, it points to a promising method for identifying this condition in pets.
People also search for: dog pheochromocytoma symptoms · high blood pressure in dogs · dog tumor diagnosis tests
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adrenomegaly and hypertension are common clinical entities in canine medicine for which testing for pheochromocytoma is recommended. Yet, a validated biochemical test for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs does not exist. In human medicine, plasma free metanephrine testing is the diagnostic standard for the biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of measurement of plasma free metanephrines in dogs for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. METHODS: Plasma free metanephrines were measured in 11 healthy dogs and in 3 dogs confirmed to have a pheochromocytoma. The metanephrine assays were performed at a reference laboratory using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. RESULTS: The plasma free metanephrine and normetanephrine concentrations in 11 healthy dogs were normally distributed and were used to create tentative reference intervals. All 3 dogs with histologically confirmed pheochromocytoma clearly had higher concentrations of plasma free metanephrines. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the potential utility of plasma free metanephrines levels for the biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24320781/