Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity in Serum of Dogs with Diabetic Ketoacidosis

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a relatively common endocrine disorder in dogs and is routinely associated with concurrent pancreatic injury. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of pancreatic injury in dogs with DKA based on measurement of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in serum (PLI); compare demographic, clinicopathologic, and ultrasonographic findings in dogs with and without evidence of concurrent pancreatic injury; determine the impact of pancreatic injury on duration of hospitalization and short‐term outcome. ANIMALS: One hundred and nineteen dogs with DKA with or without concurrent pancreatic injury. METHODS: Retrospective study. Dogs with DKA were divided into three groups on the basis of PLI results: positive for pancreatic injury (PLI (pos)), negative for pancreatic injury (PLI (neg)), and not tested (PLI (na)). Demographics, clinicopathologic test results, findings on abdominal ultrasonography (AUS), duration of hospitalization, and short‐term outcome were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: Based on serum PLI activity, 45 dogs (73%) with DKA had evidence of concurrent pancreatic injury. Median total carbon dioxide was significantly lower in the PLI (pos) dogs compared to the PLI (neg) dogs. There was fair agreement (κ = 0.26) between serum PLI activity and AUS. Evidence of pancreatic injury was not associated with significantly longer periods of hospitalization (PLI (pos) median 6 days, range 4–7 days, PLI (neg) median 4 days, range 3–6 days) and did not influence short‐term outcome (PLI (pos) failure to survive to discharge 11/45, 24%, PLI (neg) failure to survive to discharge 2/17, 12%). CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Concurrent pancreatic injury is common in dogs with DKA, but did not affect prognosis in this population of dogs.