Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pancreas-specific lipase concentrations and amylase and lipase activities in the peritoneal fluid of dogs with suspected pancreatitis.
- Journal:
- Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Chartier, Marie A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Diagnosing acute pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, in dogs can be tricky. This study looked at the levels of a specific enzyme called pancreas-specific lipase, along with two other enzymes, amylase and lipase, in the fluid surrounding the organs of dogs suspected to have this condition. They tested 14 dogs with pancreatitis and 19 dogs with other health issues. The results showed that measuring pancreas-specific lipase in the fluid was very reliable for confirming pancreatitis, while the other two enzymes were somewhat helpful but not as strong in making the diagnosis. Overall, the study suggests that checking pancreas-specific lipase levels in the peritoneal fluid can be a useful tool for veterinarians when diagnosing acute pancreatitis in dogs.
Abstract
Diagnosing acute pancreatitis in the dog can be challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of pancreas-specific lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), and the activities of amylase and lipase, in the peritoneal fluid from a population of dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical signs, ultrasonographic findings and serum cPLI concentrations. In a prospective study, cPLI concentrations, and amylase and lipase activities, were measured in the peritoneal fluid of 14 dogs with pancreatitis and 19 dogs with non-pancreatic disease. The sensitivity and specificity of peritoneal fluid cPLI concentration (cut-off value 500 µg/L) were 100.0% (95% confidence interval, CI, 80.7-100.0%) and 94.7% (95% CI 76.7-99.7%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of peritoneal fluid amylase (cut-off value 1050 U/L) and lipase activities (cut-off value 500 U/L) were 71.4% (95% CI 44.5-90.2%) and 84.2% (95% CI 62.8-95.8%) for amylase activity, and 92.9% (95% CI 69.5-99.6%) and 94.7% (95% CI 76.7-99.7%) for lipase activity, respectively. In conclusion, peritoneal fluid cPLI concentration was highly sensitive as a complementary diagnostic tool in a group of dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. Peritoneal fluid lipase activity was not as sensitive as cPLI concentration, but may also support a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25106805/