Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
used for comparisons between the mean values of cPLI at time
T
0
with those at
T
1
-
T
9
. The odds-ratio method was used to verify the probability of an alteration in
cPLI values in subjects being treated from
T
0
to
T
9
. Statistical analyses were
conducted using MedCalc Software Statistical
®
version 11.1 for Windows XP
®
.
The value considered statistically significant was
P
<
0.05.
11.3 Results
The 20 dogs enrolled in this study were of different breeds (five mixed breeds, four
Dobermanns, two English setters, and one each of Corso, Argeois, German shep-
herd, Boxer, Bloodhound, Rottweiler, Jack Russell, Pointer, Lagotto, and Kurzhar),
different ages (1-8 years), both sexes (9 males and 11 females), and various weights
(5.8-40 kg). None of the 20 dogs had a Spec cPL concentration greater than
400 mg/L or clinical signs suggestive of pancreatitis at
T
0
. During the subsequent
weekly exams, 17 dogs showed no clinical signs suggestive of pancreatitis, two
dogs had mild to moderate depression and anorexia, and one dog had vomiting and
abdominal pain. In two of the three dogs with clinical signs, abdominal ultrasonog-
raphy revealed abnormalities consistent with pancreatitis.
In subjects with suspected pancreatitis, administration of MA was suspended and
a specific therapeutic treatment was undertaken. No significant hemato-biochemical
alterations were found at
T
0
or at subsequent time points (
T
1
-
T
9
). The physico-
chemical tests of urine and urinary sediments were normal in all 20 dogs, while
eight dogs had proteinuria with UC/UC ratios between 0.62 and 2.31 (average
1.36
0.66 DS).
Comparisons of the mean values of the cPLI variance in subjects at
T
0
and at
subsequent
time points did not show any statistically significant differences
(
P
0.05). The odds-ratio analysis of the mean values of cPLI at
T
0
and at
subsequent time points suggested the absence of statistically significant differences
at the various control points (
P
>
0.05).
>
11.4 Discussion
Pancreatitis in dogs can be described as acute or chronic, depending on the
reversibility of histopathological changes (Steiner et al.
2008
). The subclinical
course of certain forms of pancreatitis, the nonspecific clinical signs in other
cases, the operator- and instrument-dependent sensitivities, and the specificity of
pancreatic ultrasonography all render definitive diagnoses difficult (Steiner
2003
).
The determination of pancreatic lipase by a commercially available immunoassay
(Spec cPL) has recently been validated (Steiner
2003
). This is an organ-specific and
species-specific test that is both more sensitive (93%) and specific (78%) than
