Progression of lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in dogs hospitalized for acute pancreatitis and correlation with clinical features

Claudia Cueni; Natalie Hofer-Inteeworn; Claudia Kümmerle-Fraune; Claudia Müller; Peter Hendrik Kook

doi:10.1111/jvim.16591

Progression of lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in dogs hospitalized for acute pancreatitis and correlation with clinical features

J Vet Intern Med. 2023 Jan;37(1):70-79. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16591. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Claudia Cueni¹, Natalie Hofer-Inteeworn¹, Claudia Kümmerle-Fraune¹, Claudia Müller¹, Peter Hendrik Kook¹

Affiliation

¹ Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract

Background: Lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) have not been compared in dogs hospitalized for acute pancreatitis (AP).

Objectives: To describe the progression of lipase activity and PLI, and correlations with clinicopathologic features in dogs with AP.

Animals: Thirty-nine dogs with AP based on clinical signs and lipase activity >350 U/L (reference interval [RI], 24-108 U/L).

Methods: Retrospective study. Lipase activity (LIPC Roche), PLI (SpecPL), and clinical signs were recorded daily. Admission (d1) data (clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound [US] findings), and clinical signs during hospitalization (d2-d3) were assessed for correlation with lipases.

Results: Median (range) duration of clinical signs before presentation was 2 days (1-7 days). Median (range) lipase activity and PLI at d1 were 1070 U/L (range, 357-1500 U/L) and 1111 μg/L (range, 292-1500 μg/L). Strong correlation between assays at d1 (r_s 0.96; P < .0001; n = 39), remained equally strong on d2 (r_s 0.964; P < .0001; n = 39), and d3 (r_s 0.966; P < .0001; n = 22). On d2, lipase activity and PLI were within RI in 13/39 (33%) and 18/39 (46%) of cases. Lipase activities were minimally increased (median, 124 U/L) in 5 dogs with d2 PLI <200 μg/L. On d3, 4 more dogs had normal lipase activity and PLI, and the nature and magnitude of change were always the same for both assays. Clinical signs were not associated with lipases. Only a hyperechoic mesentery, but not an US diagnosis of AP, correlated significantly with lipase activity and PLI.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Lipase decreases rapidly to near or within RI within 2 days of treatment in the majority of dogs with AP. Both lipase assays yielded virtually identical results. Mesenteric echogenicity may be an early marker of AP in dogs.

Keywords: DGGR; PLI; Spec cPL; dog; lipase activity; pancreatic ultrasonography; pancreatitis.

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Animals
Dog Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
Dogs
Lipase
Pancreas / diagnostic imaging
Pancreatitis* / diagnosis
Pancreatitis* / veterinary
Retrospective Studies

Substances

Lipase