Serial measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration in dogs with immune‐mediated disease treated with prednisolone

• Published in: Journal of small animal practice Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 342 - 347
• Main Authors: Ohta, H., Morita, T., Yokoyama, N., Osuga, T., Sasaki, N., Morishita, K., Nakamura, K., Takiguchi, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2017; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Diseases; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dogs; Female; Immunoreactivity; Immunosuppression; Lipase; Lipase - blood; Lipase - immunology; Male; Pancreas; Pancreas - enzymology; Pancreatitis; Pilot Projects; Prednisolone; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Prednisone; Triacylglycerol lipase
• ISSN: 0022-4510; 1748-5827
• DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12652

Objectives
In this pilot study, serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity was measured repeatedly in dogs with various immune‐mediated diseases that were treated with immunosuppressive doses of prednisolone.
Methods
Ten client‐owned dogs with newly diagnosed immune‐mediated disease that had normal canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations (≤200 µg/l) were treated with 2 to 2.2 mg/kg prednisolone orally once daily as the initial treatment. Serum samples were obtained from each of the dogs prior to treatment and at 1‐ to 4‐week intervals during immunosuppressive treatment. The highest canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration detected during immunosuppressive treatment was defined as the peak canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity.
Results
Peak canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations were classified as normal in two dogs, questionable (201 to 399 µg/l) in three dogs, and abnormal (≥400 µg/l) in five dogs. Peak canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations were significantly higher than baseline canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations but there was no evidence of clinical pancreatitis.
Clinical Significance
It remains unclear whether the five of 10 dogs with elevated canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity during prednisone treatment had subclinical pancreatitis or whether the abnormal results were a consequence of prednisolone administration.