Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine pancreatic lipase tests do not detect new shunts after surgery
By Serrano, Gonçalo et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·Small Animal Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Repeated specific canine pancreatic lipase measurements do not identify multiple acquired portosystemic shunts in dogs after extrahepatic portosystemic shunt attenuation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 24 dogs that had surgery to correct a congenital liver issue were monitored to see if a specific blood test (spec cPL) could help identify if they developed new liver problems afterward. While some dogs showed elevated levels of spec cPL shortly after surgery, these levels did not consistently indicate whether they had developed new portosystemic shunts (abnormal blood vessels that bypass the liver). Ultimately, the test was not reliable for detecting these new issues, meaning veterinarians may need to use other methods to assess liver health after surgery.
People also search for: dog liver problems after surgery · elevated spec cPL in dogs · portosystemic shunt treatment in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In dogs with portal hypertension (PH), spec cPL is suggested to be increased despite normal pancreatic histology. After attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (cEHPSS), multiple acquired portosystemic shunt (MAPSS) can develop as consequence of sustained PH. Presence of MAPSS affects future therapeutic options and prognosis. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate if spec cPL concentrations increase postoperatively in dogs that develop MAPSS and can thus serve as an indicator of PH. ANIMALS: Twenty-four dogs with cEHPSS. METHODS: Dogs classified according to surgical outcome after cEHPSS attenuation (8 with MAPSS [group M], 9 with closed cEHPSS [group C] and 7 with patent blood flow through the original cEHPSS, without evidence of MAPSS [group P]). Spec cPL was measured in preoperative samples (T0), 4 days (T1) and 1 (T2) and 3- to 6-months (T3) after surgery. RESULTS: Spec cPL was within reference interval (<200 μg/L) at all timepoints except at T1. At T1, 2 dogs in group M (321 and >2000 μg/L) and also 1 in group C (688 μg/L) and 1 in group P (839 μg/L) had increased spec cPL concentrations. No differences in spec cPL concentrations between groups or changes over time were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Spec cPL is not consistently increased in dogs that develop MAPSS after cEHPSS attenuation and has no potential as a biomarker for the identification of MAPSS after cEHPSS attenuation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37596730/