Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urine cortisol test cut-off values for diagnosing Cushing's in dogs
By Schäfer, Ingo et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2023·Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Diagnostic cut-off values for the urinary corticoid:creatinine ratio for the diagnosis of canine Cushing's syndrome using an automated chemiluminescent assay.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs suspected of having Cushing's syndrome (a hormonal disorder) underwent two tests: a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and a urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio (UCCR) test. The UCCR test can be done at home and showed an 86% chance of correctly identifying dogs with the condition, making it a useful first step for pet owners. If the UCCR result is above 60, it suggests Cushing's syndrome, while results below 40 indicate it's unlikely. This approach helps reduce stress for the dog since urine samples can be collected easily at home.
People also search for: dog Cushing's syndrome symptoms · how to test for Cushing's in dogs · dog urine test for Cushing's syndrome
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cushing's syndrome is one of the most common endocrinopathies in dogs. The preferred screening test for spontaneous Cushing's syndrome is the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST). The diagnostic value of urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios (UCCR) is questionable. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic cut-off values for UCCR testing in comparison with LDDST as a clinical reference standard and to calculate the sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: Data from 2018 to 2020 were obtained retrospectively from a commercial laboratory. Both LDDST and UCCR were measured by automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). The maximum interval between both tests was 14 days. The optimal cut-off value for UCCR testing was calculated by the Youden index. The sensitivity and specificity of these cut-off values for the UCCR test and LDDST were assessed by Bayesian latent class models (BLCMs). RESULTS: This study included 324 dogs with both UCCR test and LDDST results. The optimal UCCR cut-off value, calculated by the Youden index, was 47.4 × 10. Any UCCR <40 × 10was interpreted as a negative result, 40-60 × 10as values in a gray zone, and >60 × 10as positive. Using the cut-off of 60 × 10, BLCM showed 91% (LDDST) and 86% (UCCR test) sensitivity and a specificity of 54% (LDDST) and 63% (UCCR test). CONCLUSIONS: Considering an 86% sensitivity and a 63% specificity, UCCR testing may be considered a first-line investigation to rule out Cushing's syndrome using CLIA analysis. Urine samples can be collected noninvasively at home by the owner, reducing the potential impact of stress.
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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37204225/