title: Biochemical analysis of pericardial fluid and whole blood in dogs with pericardial effusion.
abstract: Studies evaluating pericardial fluid analysis in dogs to determine the etiology of pericardial effusions have yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare acid-base status, electrolyte concentrations, glucose, and lactate of pericardial fluid to peripheral blood from dogs with pericardial effusion and to compare these variables between dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic pericardial effusion. Acid-base status, electrolyte concentrations, glucose, hematocrit, urea nitrogen, and lactate concentrations were evaluated in peripheral blood samples and in pericardial effusion samples of 41 client-owned dogs with pericardial effusion. Common abnormal findings in the peripheral blood of dogs with pericardial effusion included hyperlactatemia (n = 38 [of 41]; 93%), hyponatremia (n = 25/41; 61%), hyperglycemia (n = 13/41; 32%), and hypermagnesemia (n = 13/41; 32%). Bicarbonate, sodium, ionized calcium, glucose, and hematocrit were all significantly lower in the pericardial fluid compared with peripheral blood, whereas lactate, chloride, and PCO2 were significantly higher in the pericardial fluid. When comparing the concentrations of variables in the pericardial fluid of dogs with neoplasia (n = 28) to those without neoplasia (n = 13), pH, bicarbonate, and chloride were significantly lower in dogs with neoplasia, whereas lactate, hematocrit, and urea nitrogen were significantly higher in the pericardial fluid of dogs with neoplasia. The difference between peripheral and pericardial glucose concentrations was significantly larger in dogs with neoplasia than in dogs without neoplasia. Although differences between variables in dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic pericardial effusion were documented, clinical relevance is likely limited by the degree of overlap between the 2 groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. armelle.delaforcade@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Armelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Laforcade
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rozanski
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005947:Glucose