title: Evaluation of serum L-phenylalanine concentration as indicator of liver disease in dogs: a pilot study.
abstract: Because essential amino acids are metabolized in the liver, liver diseases may impair their catabolism. In this study, serum L-phenylalanine concentrations in 28 dogs with liver diseases were compared with those of 28 healthy dogs and 13 dogs with nonhepatic diseases. Dogs with liver diseases had significantly increased L-phenylalanine serum concentrations compared to healthy dogs (P<0.001) and to those with nonhepatic diseases (P<0.01). There were no significant differences among the L-phenylalanine serum concentrations of dogs with different degrees of liver diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of L-phenylalanine to fasting bile acids were comparable.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Welling
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thuere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010649:Phenylalanine