Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Resting cortisol test for dogs with chronic gut problems
By Gallego, Ana Fernandez et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2022·The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of resting cortisol concentration testing in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal signs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 282 dogs with ongoing stomach issues were tested for low cortisol levels, which can indicate a condition called hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). Only one dog was diagnosed with this condition, while the majority were found to have chronic primary inflammatory enteropathy, a type of gut inflammation. In some cases, dogs with initially low cortisol levels had normal results upon retesting, helping to rule out hypoadrenocorticism. This suggests that while low cortisol can be a concern, it is not the most common cause of chronic gastrointestinal problems in dogs.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Resting cortisol concentrations are routinely measured in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal signs to rule out hypoadrenocorticism based on a concentration >2 μg/dL (>55 nmol/L). HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess the cross-sectional prevalence of hypoadrenocorticism in a group of dogs with chronic gastrointestinal signs presented to a referral internal medicine service. ANIMALS: Two-hundred and eighty-two client-owned dogs with chronic gastrointestinal signs and with resting cortisol concentration testing performed. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records (final diagnosis, resting cortisol concentration, and adenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH] stimulation test results) of a referral population of dogs between May 2013 and September 2017. RESULTS: Resting cortisol concentration was <2 μg/dL (<55 nmol/L) in 79 patients (28%). Repeated resting cortisol concentration measurements were performed in 28 dogs, and in 8, resting cortisol concentrations remained <2 μg/dL (<55 nmol/L). Post-ACTH cortisol concentration was <2 μg/dL (<55 nmol/L) in 1 dog, consistent with a diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism and giving a prevalence estimate of hypoadrenocorticism in this population of dogs of 0.3% (95% confidence interval [95CI], 0.03-1.5%). In 19 dogs with an initial resting cortisol concentration <2 μg/dL (<55 nmol/L), hypoadrenocorticism was excluded based on a repeat resting cortisol concentration >2 μg/dL (>55 nmol/L). Overall, the most common diagnosis was chronic primary inflammatory enteropathy (176/282, 62.4%), followed by extragastrointestinal neoplasia (17/282, 6%), protein-losing enteropathy, pancreatitis and megaesophagus (10/282, 3.5% each). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Although dogs with hypoadrenocorticism can present with chronic gastrointestinal signs, it was the final diagnosis in only 1 of 282 dogs presenting to a referral internal medicine service for signs of chronic enteropathy. Repeated resting cortisol concentration may be considered as a test to try and exclude hypoadrenocorticism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35118742/