Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How accurate is canine pancreatic elastase-1 blood test
By Mansfield, Caroline S. et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia (Mansfield), Australia·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Specificity and sensitivity of serum canine pancreatic elastase-1 concentration in the diagnosis of pancreatitis
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs showing signs of pancreatitis, like vomiting and abdominal pain, were tested for a specific protein in their blood called canine pancreatic elastase-1 (cPE-1) to see if it could help diagnose their condition. The study found that while cPE-1 levels were not significantly different in dogs with pancreatic disease compared to those without, higher levels were associated with severe acute pancreatitis. The test showed a good ability to identify severe cases, with a sensitivity of about 78%. This means that while cPE-1 can help in diagnosing severe pancreatitis, it may not be as effective for chronic or mild cases.
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Abstract
The aim of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum canine pancreatic elastase-1 (cPE-1) for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs. The study was prospective, assessing dogs presenting with clinical signs similar to pancreatitis. Sixty-one dogs were recruited (49 with pancreatic disease and 12 with non-pancreatic disease). There was no significant difference in serum cPE-1 between dogs with pancreatic disease and non-pancreatic disease. However, there was a significant difference in serum cPE-1 between severe acute pancreatitis and non-pancreatic disease. A cut-off value for serum cPE-1 > 17.24 ng/ml resulted in sensitivity of 61.4% and specificity of 91.7% for diagnosis of all types of pancreatic disease. The sensitivity rose to 65.85% and 78.26% for the diagnosis of all types of acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis, respectively. Serum cPE-1 is more sensitive at diagnosing severe acute pancreatitis than chronic or mild acute pancreatitis, and has a high positive likelihood ratio. Dogs with chronic pancreatitis tended to have lower serum cPE-1 concentration, suggesting decreased exocrine function.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638711407875