Evaluation of Hyperlipasemia and Clinical Signs in 106 Dogs After Hospitalization for Acute Pancreatitis: Results From a Combined Retrospective and Prospective Follow-Up Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: No data after hospitalization for acute pancreatitis (AP) in dogs comparing clinical signs to lipase results exists. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate disease severity, lipase activity, and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) after hospitalization for suspected AP. ANIMALS: One hundred and six client-owned dogs with a minimum of one re-check 2&#x2009;weeks after hospitalization for AP. METHODS: Combined retrospective and prospective study. Clinical signs graded using a clinical disease activity score (CDAS&#x2009;=&#x2009;CIBDAI complemented by abdominal pain) were compared to DGGR-lipase activity (LIPC Roche) and PLI (SpecPL) at 2&#x2009;weeks (t, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;106) after discharge. Additional re-checks were available 6&#x2009;weeks (t, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;56), 12&#x2009;weeks (t, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;24), and 24&#x2009;weeks (t, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;13) after discharge. RESULTS: Lipase activity and PLI correlated strongly at all time points (r0.863-0.937, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). Discordant results in regard to published reference intervals (RI) were rare (2.8% at t, 1.7% at t, 4.2% at t, 0% at t) and seemed clinically irrelevant. Dogs with still elevated lipase activity and PLI at t(24/106.22.6%) and t(21/56.37.5%) were significantly older compared to dogs with lipase within RI. Weak and moderate correlation between CDAS and lipase activity/PLI was found only at t(r0.391, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0009; r0.279, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004) and t(r0.603, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.032; r0.57 p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.045). Most dogs (79.2%) with still elevated lipase at thad no or minimal clinical signs (CDAS 0-3). The same applied to all later re-checks. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Both lipase assays did not differ when compared to clinical status. Most dogs with hyperlipasemia after hospitalization for AP have no or minimal clinical signs.