title: Clinical Utility of Diagnostic Laboratory Tests in Dogs with Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Investigation in a Primary Care Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute pancreatitis (AP) occurs frequently in dogs, but most previous studies examining the diagnosis of AP have used data from secondary care hospitals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of diagnostic laboratory tests in dogs with AP in a primary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four dogs with clinical signs suggestive of AP diagnosed with nonpancreatic disease (NP) or AP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, including diagnostic laboratory tests considered potentially useful in the diagnosis of AP. The diagnostic accuracy of amylase and FUJI DRI-CHEM lipase (FDC lip) were investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). In addition, we verified whether diagnostic laboratory tests were useful for evaluating duration of hospitalization and as biomarkers for monitoring recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activities of amylase and FDC lip were significantly higher in the AP group than in the NP group (P = .001, P < .001, respectively). The sensitivity of FDP lip activity for diagnosing AP was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.7-100%); the specificity was 89.5% (95% CI, 66.9-98.7%). Area under the ROC curve for FDC lip activity was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.93-1). High alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was associated with extended duration of hospitalization (P = .04). A significant difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration before and 5 days after treatment was found (P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of FDC lip activity appears useful for diagnosing AP. High ALT activity might be associated with prolonged duration of hospitalization, and CRP might be useful as a biomarker for monitoring recovery from AP.
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitano
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imataka
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tawada
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases
keywords: Canine; inflammation; pancreas