Research Communications of the 24th ECVIM-CA Congress

The activity of two non-specific biomarkers, amylase and lipase, was determined in 132 serum samples from dogs suspected of having pancreatitis by their veterinarian. Of these samples 42 were positive by virtue of their pancreatic lipase (cPLi) results (cPLi > 200 ug/l). The amylase and lipase data was then used to develop a series of algorithms using mathematical data mining and classification techniques. Additional algorithms were developed using extra parameters including age, sex, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in addition to the two enzyme levels. The performance of the algorithms was assessed using 27 separate blinded serum samples taken from dogs which were scored clinically for acute pancreatitis according to the system described by McCord et al (J Vet Intern Med 2012; 26:888-896) . These cases presented for evaluation with vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetance and abdominal pain and were included if a clinical history, results of routine haematology, biochemistry, cPLi assay and abdominal ultrasound were available.