Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test measuring metanephrines to diagnose pheochromocytoma
By Gostelow, R et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2013·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Plasma-free metanephrine and free normetanephrine measurement for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs was tested for a rare tumor called pheochromocytoma, which can cause symptoms like increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Researchers measured specific substances in the blood (metanephrines) to see if they could help diagnose this condition. They found that high levels of free normetanephrine were very effective in identifying dogs with the tumor, showing a 100% sensitivity rate, meaning it correctly identified all affected dogs. This non-invasive blood test could be a useful tool for veterinarians to diagnose pheochromocytoma in dogs.
People also search for: dog pheochromocytoma symptoms · dog blood test for tumors · high blood pressure in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Measurement of plasma-free metanephrines is the test of choice to identify pheochromocytoma in human patients. OBJECTIVES: To establish the sensitivity and specificity of plasma-free metanephrine (fMN) and free normetanephrine (fNMN) concentrations to diagnose pheochromocytoma in dogs. ANIMALS: Forty-five client-owned dogs (8 dogs with pheochromocytoma, 11 dogs with adrenocortical tumors, 15 dogs with nonadrenal disease, and 11 healthy dogs.) METHODS: A prospective study. EDTA plasma was collected from diseased and healthy dogs and submitted for fMN and fNMN measurement by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: Free MN concentration (median [range]) was significantly higher in dogs with pheochromocytoma (8.15 [1.73-175.23] nmol/L) than in healthy dogs (0.95 [0.68-3.08] nmol/L; P < .01) and dogs with adrenocortical tumors (0.92 [0.25-2.51] nmol/L; P < .001), but was not different from dogs with nonadrenal disease (1.91 [0.41-6.57] nmol/L; P ≥ .05). Free NMN concentration was significantly higher in dogs with pheochromocytoma (63.89 [10.19-190.31] nmol/L) than in healthy dogs (2.54 [1.59-4.17] nmol/L; P < .001), dogs with nonadrenal disease (3.30 [1.30-10.10] nmol/L; P < .001), and dogs with adrenocortical tumors (2.96 [1.92-5.01] nmol/L); P < 0.01). When used to diagnose pheochromocytoma, a fMN concentration of 4.18 nmol/L had a sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 97.3%, and a fNMN concentration of 5.52 nmol/L had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.6%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Plasma fNMN concentration has excellent sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs, whereas fMN concentration has moderate sensitivity and excellent specificity. Measurement of plasma-free metanephrines provides an effective, noninvasive, means of identifying dogs with pheochromocytoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23311717/