title: Pancreas-specific lipase concentrations and amylase and lipase activities in the peritoneal fluid of dogs with suspected pancreatitis.
abstract: Diagnosing acute pancreatitis in the dog can be challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of pancreas-specific lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), and the activities of amylase and lipase, in the peritoneal fluid from a population of dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical signs, ultrasonographic findings and serum cPLI concentrations. In a prospective study, cPLI concentrations, and amylase and lipase activities, were measured in the peritoneal fluid of 14 dogs with pancreatitis and 19 dogs with non-pancreatic disease. The sensitivity and specificity of peritoneal fluid cPLI concentration (cut-off value 500 µg/L) were 100.0% (95% confidence interval, CI, 80.7-100.0%) and 94.7% (95% CI 76.7-99.7%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of peritoneal fluid amylase (cut-off value 1050 U/L) and lipase activities (cut-off value 500 U/L) were 71.4% (95% CI 44.5-90.2%) and 84.2% (95% CI 62.8-95.8%) for amylase activity, and 92.9% (95% CI 69.5-99.6%) and 94.7% (95% CI 76.7-99.7%) for lipase activity, respectively. In conclusion, peritoneal fluid cPLI concentration was highly sensitive as a complementary diagnostic tool in a group of dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. Peritoneal fluid lipase activity was not as sensitive as cPLI concentration, but may also support a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; IVG MetroWest, 5 Strathmore Road, Natick, MA 01760, USA. Electronic address: mchartier@ivghospitals.com.
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
authors.forename: Steve L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
authors.forename: Sarena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunico
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suchodolski
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories, 1 Idexx Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Joerg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008049:Lipase; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases
keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Amylase; Canine; Lipase; Pancreas-specific lipase immunoreactivity; Peritoneal fluid