Hyperlipasemia has been reported in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with and without hemodialysis (HD) but associations with AKI severity, treatment modality, and outcome have not been extensively evaluated.
Retrospective study including 125 client-owned dogs with AKI, with creatinine concentrations and 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6’-methyresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase activities measured within 24 hours of admission and during hospitalization. Dogs with a history of acute (AP) or chronic pancreatitis were excluded.
DGGR-lipase activity >3x upper reference limit (URL) was found in 28.8% and 57.5% of dogs at admission and during hospitalization, respectively, and severe hyperlipasemia (>10x URL) was seen in 34% of dogs during hospitalization. A diagnosis of AP was given to 8.8% and 16% of dogs at admission and during hospitalization, respectively. DGGR-lipase activity was higher in dogs with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) grades 4–5 than in those with grades 1–3, but no correlation was found between DGGR-lipase activity and creatinine concentrations. Treatment with HD was not associated with hyperlipasemia independently of IRIS group. Severe AKI (IRIS 4–5) and high DGGR-lipase activity were associated with poor outcome.
Hyperlipasemia is frequent in dogs with AKI, and is associated with severity of AKI and death, but not independently with HD treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate causes of hyperlipasemia in dogs with AKI
