Pituitary ACTH and adrenocortical secretion in critically ill dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate pituitary-adrenal function in a population of critically ill dogs by measuring serial plasma concentrations of basal cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
20 critically ill dogs admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
Basal plasma cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH concentrations were measured for each dog within 24 hours of admission and daily until death, euthanasia, or discharge from the ICU. Established reference ranges for healthy dogs were used for comparison. Survival prediction index (SPI) scores were calculated for each dog within 24 hours of admission.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between initial concentrations of basal cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH in 13 dogs that survived and those in 7 dogs that died. High initial basal endogenous ACTH concentrations were correlated with subsequent high values. Low basal ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations were predictive of higher subsequent values. All basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations were within or above the reference range in the 52 plasma samples collected from the 20 dogs during hospitalization. The SPI scores correlated with outcome (ie, alive or dead), but none of the plasma hormone concentrations correlated with SPI score or outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that none of the critically ill dogs in our study population developed adrenal insufficiency during hospitalization in the ICU.
Prittie
Jennifer E
JE
Department of Medicine, Bobst Hospital, The Animal Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Barton
Linda J
LJ
Peterson
Mark E
ME
Kemppainen
Robert J
RJ
Herr
Leslie G
LG
Fox
Philip R
PR
D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone