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Pet Medication Home -> Diagnosing Pancreatic Disease in Pets
Diagnosing Pancreatic Disease in Pets
by Nick Carmichael
The laboratory diagnosis of pancreatic disease in dogs and cats
has taken has made some significant progress in the last few years.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is now recognised in both
dogs and cats and while most affected animals are young there are
a number of older animals that are affected.
The canine Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI) test is both sensitive
and specific for EPI and is assayed as part of the canine intestinal
profile together with folate and cobalamin. Feline TLI has been
shown similarly to be an excellent assay for EPI in cats, however
this test is currently available only in the USA. As a result, we
do not routinely include this test in the feline intestinal profile
but we would recommend adding it for all cats with steathorreic
faeces and for cats that are thin despite eating well where other
causes have been ruled out.
The laboratory diagnosis of canine pancreatitis is complicated
by the fact that amylase and lipase quickly return to normal following
the onset of clinical signs - so normal results need not exclude
pancreatitis. In addition, mild increases in amylase and lipase
can be seen with intestinal and hepatic disease and both are affected
by reduced renal function. As a result these tests are neither completely
sensitive nor specific.
In cats with pancreatitis amylase and lipase are only occasionally
abnormal and they are considered of little diagnostic value in this
species. Pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) however, holds
out considerably more promise for the diagnosis of pancreatitis
in the dog and cat. In dogs, PLI elevations appear to persist for
longer than other tests and this is now considered the best test
for chronic pancreatitis. In cats with pancreatitis, PLI has been
reported to be more sensitive than TLI (70% vs. 30%). This is particularly
useful in cats as the clinical signs in this species are often non-specific
(lethargy, anorexia, dehydration) with only 35% showing vomiting
and 25% showing abdominal pain.
Currently the PLI assay is only available in the USA so the turnaround
is about 10 days. It is likely however that we will be able to offer
this assay more directly in future. To request PLI for dogs or cats
simply indicate this on the request form (B33) and ensure that an
additional 0.75 ml non-lipaemic serum is submitted.
About the author: Nick graduated from Edinburgh Veterinary School
in 1980 with an Honours degree in Pathological Sciences and in 1982
as a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. In 2003 Nick became
a diplomate of the Royal college of Pathologists in veterinary clinical
pathology.
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