Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prevalence of increased canine pancreas-specific lipase concentrations in young dogs with parvovirus enteritis.
- Journal:
- Veterinary clinical pathology
- Year:
- 2017
- Authors:
- Kalli, Irida V et al.
- Affiliation:
- Companion Animal Clinic
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at young dogs with parvovirus enteritis, a serious intestinal infection, to see if high levels of a specific enzyme called pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) could indicate the presence of acute pancreatitis (a sudden inflammation of the pancreas). They found that nearly half of the 35 puppies tested had elevated Spec cPL levels. While most of the dogs showed increased lipase activity, the researchers did not find a significant difference in the overall health outcomes or how long the dogs needed to stay in the hospital based on their Spec cPL levels. In summary, while high Spec cPL levels are common in these puppies, they do not appear to affect how well the dogs recover from the illness.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic abnormalities during canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis have not been studied prospectively. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic significance of canine serum pancreas-specific lipase (Spec cPL) concentration in dogs with CPV enteritis for the presence of acute pancreatitis (AP). Puppies with naturally occurring CPV enteritis were recruited and prospectively allocated into 2 groups according to normal or increased serum Spec cPL concentration. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and pancreas-associated variables were compared between groups, and the impact of possible AP on disease course, duration of hospitalization, and outcome was assessed. RESULTS: Serum Spec cPL concentration in 35 puppies was above the upper limit of the RI in 17/35 (48.6%) dogs (Group A) and within the RI in 18 dogs (Group B). An increased serum lipase activity was present in 29/35 (82.9%) dogs, and Group A dogs had a higher serum lipase activity than Group B (P = .006). Serum Spec cPL in Group A dogs was positively correlated with serum lipase activity at the day of presentation (r = .667; P = .003) and day of discharge (r = .628; P = .007). No statistically significant difference was found between groups (P = .233) for the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (6/17 or 35.3% dogs Group A, and 8/18 or 44.4% dogs Group B), the disease course, duration of hospitalization, or outcome between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum Spec cPL is relatively common in dogs with CPV enteritis. However, such increases do not seem to correlate with the outcome of disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28125171/