Research Communications of the 24th ECVIM-CA Congress

No conflicts of interest reported. Pituitary dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) in dogs is frequently associated with high serum phosphate and parathormone concentrations. The pathogenesis of such abnormalities remains unknown and the evaluation of the urinary fractional excretion of phosphate and calcium in PDH dogs might be helpful in enhancing the knowledge regarding this issue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum and urinary concentrations and the urinary fractional excretion of phosphate and calcium in dogs with PDH. Medical records from one referral center were retrospectively evaluated between 2003 and 2013. The diagnosis of PDH was confirmed using the cortisol to creatinine ratio, the LDDS test and/or ACTH stimulation test, the plasma ACTH concentration, ultrasonography of the adrenal glands and computer tomography (CT) of the pituitary and the adrenal glands in dogs with consistent clinical signs. Only newly diagnosed dogs, before treatment for PDH, were evaluated. Two control groups were included: one healthy and one sick control dog (without PDH) for each dog with PDH were included. Healthy control dogs (HCD) and sick control dogs (SCD) were matched for age (AE6 months), breed, sex and sexual status. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests and expressed as median and ranges. Significance was set at p < 0.05. One-hundredsixty-seven dogs with PDH were eligible for inclusion in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 10 years (range: 3-16) and the median body weight was 14.7 kg (range: 3.0-65.5). There were 100 female (64 spayed) and 67 male (11 castrated).