Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for high pancreatic enzyme in dogs with hypercortisolism
By Baek, Minju et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2026·College of Veterinary Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Risk factors associated with elevated serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration in dogs with hypercortisolism.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Beagle was diagnosed with hypercortisolism (a condition where the body produces too much cortisol) and was found to have elevated levels of a pancreatic enzyme, which can indicate pancreatitis. The vet discovered that certain blood tests showed higher levels of substances that could signal pancreatic injury. After starting treatment with trilostane, which helps lower cortisol levels, the dog's pancreatic enzyme levels decreased significantly. This suggests that managing hypercortisolism can also help reduce the risk of pancreatitis in affected dogs.
People also search for: dog hypercortisolism treatment · Beagle pancreatitis symptoms · elevated pancreatic enzyme in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypercortisolism (HC) is a common endocrine disorder in dogs that is often associated with pancreatitis. However, the relationship between cortisol concentration, pancreatic injury (PI) markers, and serum specific canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (Spec cPL) concentration elevation remains unclear. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of PI, identify risk factors for elevated Spec cPL, and evaluate changes in Spec cPL concentrations after treatment. ANIMALS: Seventy-one client-owned dogs diagnosed with naturally occurring HC between 2015 and 2024. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study with a nested cohort analysis. Dogs were classified as PI (Spec cPL ≥400 μg/L) or non-PI (Spec cPL <400 μg/L). Clinical and laboratory variables, including abdominal ultrasonography findings, were analyzed. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression analysis. A subset of dogs with follow-up data was analyzed to assess changes in Spec cPL concentration after treatment for HC. RESULTS: The PI comprised 16 dogs, with 7 (44%) showing ultrasonographic signs of pancreatitis. Univariate analysis showed significant intergroup differences in gamma-glutamyl transferase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), symmetric dimethylarginine, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), and post-low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) cortisol concentrations. Multivariate analysis further identified BUN (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09; P =.02), UPC (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09-3.11; P =.02), and post-LDDST cortisol (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-2.17; P =.01) as risk factors. Trilostane treatment significantly reduced the post-ACTH cortisol and Spec cPL concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: PI could occur in dogs with HC, especially those having elevated post-LDDST cortisol, BUN, and UPC.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41742496/