Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urine electrolytes don't predict treatment success in dogs with low
By Langlois, Daniel K et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2023·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Urine electrolytes do not predict desoxycorticosterone pivalate efficacy in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 dogs with a condition called hypoadrenocorticism (HA), which means they lack certain hormones, were treated with a medication called desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP). The researchers looked at urine tests to see if they could help determine if the dogs were getting the right amount of treatment. While some urine tests showed a connection to blood potassium levels shortly after treatment, they ultimately found that these urine tests were not reliable for checking if the medication was working properly. The dogs were monitored for up to three months, but the urine tests did not help assess their treatment needs effectively.
People also search for: dog hypoadrenocorticism treatment · DOCP for dogs · urine tests for dog potassium levels
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if urine electrolyte assessments can be used to monitor the adequacy of mineralocorticoid therapy in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism (HA). ANIMALS: 29 dogs with naturally occurring glucocorticoid- and mineralocorticoid-deficient HA. PROCEDURES: Urine sodium and potassium concentrations, sodium-to-potassium ratios, sodium-to-creatinine ratios, and potassium-to-creatinine (K:Cr) ratios were evaluated in dogs with newly diagnosed HA that were treated with desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP). Dogs underwent measurements of urine and serum sodium, potassium, and creatinine concentrations and plasma renin activities twice monthly for up to 3 months. Regression analyses and calculation of coefficients of determination (R2) were performed to investigate potential associations between urine and serum variables. Urine variables also were compared between dogs considered to be undertreated or overtreated based on plasma renin activities. RESULTS: Urine K:Cr ratios were significantly associated with serum potassium concentrations 10 to 14 days (P = .002) and 30 days (P = .027) after the initial DOCP injection, but R2 values were only 0.35 and 0.17, respectively. Urine K:Cr ratios (median [IQR]) also were higher in dogs that were overtreated with DOCP (1.3 [0.7 to 2.3]) as compared to those dogs that were undertreated with DOCP (0.8 [0.5 to 0.9]) at 10 to 14 days after the initial DOCP injection (P = .039) but not at 30 days after the initial injection. Other urine variables were not significantly different between undertreated and overtreated dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measures of urine electrolytes were not useful for assessing the adequacy of mineralocorticoid therapy in HA dogs that were treated with DOCP.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37279885/