title: Specificity and sensitivity of serum canine pancreatic elastase-1 concentration in the diagnosis of pancreatitis.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum canine pancreatic elastase-1 (cPE-1) for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs. The study was prospective, assessing dogs presenting with clinical signs similar to pancreatitis. Sixty-one dogs were recruited (49 with pancreatic disease and 12 with non-pancreatic disease). There was no significant difference in serum cPE-1 between dogs with pancreatic disease and non-pancreatic disease. However, there was a significant difference in serum cPE-1 between severe acute pancreatitis and non-pancreatic disease. A cut-off value for serum cPE-1 > 17.24 ng/ml resulted in sensitivity of 61.4% and specificity of 91.7% for diagnosis of all types of pancreatic disease. The sensitivity rose to 65.85% and 78.26% for the diagnosis of all types of acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis, respectively. Serum cPE-1 is more sensitive at diagnosing severe acute pancreatitis than chronic or mild acute pancreatitis, and has a high positive likelihood ratio. Dogs with chronic pancreatitis tended to have lower serum cPE-1 concentration, suggesting decreased exocrine function.
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia. cmans@unimelb.edu.au
authors: Caroline S
authors: CS
authors: Mansfield
authors: Penny D
authors: PD
authors: Watson
authors: Boyd R
authors: BR
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010196:Pancreatic Elastase