Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
White blood cell count and sodium-potassium ratio to detect Addison's
By Seth, M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: White blood cell count and the sodium to potassium ratio to screen for hypoadrenocorticism in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with suspected adrenal gland issues (hypoadrenocorticism) were tested to see if a combination of their sodium to potassium ratio and white blood cell counts could help diagnose the condition. The study found that using both tests together was more effective than using either test alone. This means that if your dog is showing signs of illness and has abnormal sodium and potassium levels, a vet may check their white blood cell count to better assess the risk of hypoadrenocorticism.
People also search for: dog adrenal gland problems · hypoadrenocorticism symptoms in dogs · sodium potassium ratio in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Abnormal sodium to potassium (Na:K) ratios can raise suspicion for hypoadrenocorticism (HA). Although dogs with HA usually have normal leukograms, their white blood cell counts may be useful in screening for HA. OBJECTIVES: To examine the utility of combining the Na:K ratio with white blood cell counts to screen for HA in hospitalized dogs requiring fluid treatment administered i.v.. ANIMALS: Fifty-three dogs with confirmed HA and 110 sick dogs confirmed not to have HA. METHODS: Retrospective, case-control study. Dogs were included if they were hospitalized and administered fluids i.v., had a complete blood count and measurement of serum Na and K concentrations. HA was diagnosed using an ACTH stimulation test, or ruled out by measurement of basal serum cortisol concentration. RESULTS: The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the lymphocyte count was not significantly different from the ROC curve of the Na:K ratio (P = .55). The ROC curve for the model combining the Na:K ratio and lymphocyte count was superior for identifying dogs with HA compared to the Na:K ratio (P = .02) or lymphocyte count (P = .005) alone. At the 100% sensitivity cutoff, lymphocyte count was more specific for detection of HA than Na:K (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A combination of the Na:K ratio and lymphocyte count provides a better screening test for HA compared to the Na:K ratio or lymphocyte count alone. At 100% sensitivity, the lymphocyte count is a more specific test for HA than the Na:K.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22092627/