Urinary catecholamine and metanephrine to creatinine ratios in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or pheochromocytoma, and in healthy dogs.
BACKGROUND
Urinary catecholamines and metanephrines are used for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in dogs. Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is an important differential diagnosis for PHEO.


OBJECTIVE
To measure urinary catecholamines and metanephrines in dogs with HAC.


METHODS
Fourteen dogs with HAC, 7 dogs with PHEO, and 10 healthy dogs.


METHODS
Prospective clinical trial. Urine was collected during initial work-up in the hospital; in dogs with HAC an additional sample was taken at home 1 week after discharge. Parameters were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography and expressed as ratios to urinary creatinine concentration.


RESULTS
Dogs with HAC had significantly higher urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine and normetanephrine to creatinine ratios than healthy dogs. Urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, and metanephrine to creatinine ratios did not differ between dogs with HAC and dogs with PHEO, whereas the urinary normetanephrine to creatinine ratio was significantly higher (P= .011) in dogs with PHEO (414, 157.0-925.0, median, range versus (117.5, 53.0-323.0). Using a cut-off ratio of 4 times the highest normetanephrine to creatinine ratio measured in controls, there was no overlap between dogs with HAC and dogs with PHEO. The variables determined in urine samples collected at home did not differ from those collected in the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs with HAC might have increased concentrations of urinary catecholamines and normetanephrine. A high concentration of urinary normetanephrine (4 times normal), is highly suggestive of PHEO.
Quante
S
S
Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Boretti
F S
FS
Kook
P H
PH
Mueller
C
C
Schellenberg
S
S
Zini
E
E
Sieber-Ruckstuhl
N
N
Reusch
C E
CE
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000652:urine*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000652:urine*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*
D002395:Catecholamines; D008676:Metanephrine; D003404:Creatinine