Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes caninos con pancreatitis aguda (cPL anormal)y su correlación con cambios en la biometría y química sanguínea

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disease in dogs, with variable severity and a significant mortality rate ranging from 27% to 58% of cases. Secondary complications, such as azotemia, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between AP cases in dogs and changes in hematologic and blood chemistry parameters. A retrospective study was conducted at the Austrovet veterinary clinic, where data were collected from 33 medical records of canine patients diagnosed with AP using the canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) test between 2022 and 2023. The prevalence of azotemia and its correlation with hematologic and blood chemistry parameters were determined. The results of this study showed that red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels were below normal values. Non-regenerative anemia was the most prevalent hematologic disorder, followed by neutrophilia and leukocytosis, suggesting an active systemic inflammatory response. Regarding blood chemistry, azotemia was frequently observed in 36.36% of cases, which could indicate renal impairment. Elevated alkaline phosphatase (39.39%) and serum amylase levels exceeding three times the normal range (39.39%) were other common findings, suggesting the presence of cholangitis and/or pancreatic damage. Thus, these results highlight the importance of hematology and blood chemistry in the early diagnosis of AP, as these abnormalities indicate severe complications such as azotemia. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment could help reduce mortality and improve the prognosis of dogs with acute pancreatitis. Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Azotemia; Hematology; Blood chemistry