The effects of illness on urinary catecholamines and their metabolites in dogs

Background: Urinary catecholamines and metanephrines have been proposed as a diagnostic tool for identifying canine pheochromocytomas, but the effects of critical illness on urine concentrations of catecholamines and metanephrines is currently unknown. Objectives: To examine the effects of illness on urine concentrations of catecholamines and metanephrines in dogs. Animals: Twenty-five critically ill dogs and twenty-five healthy age- and gender-matched control dogs. Methods: Prospective observational study. Urine was collected from healthy and critically ill dogs and urine concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, metanephrine, and normetanephrine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Urinary catecholamine and metanephrine:creatinine ratios were calculated and compared between groups. Results: Urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, metanephrine, and normetanephrine:creatinine ratios were higher in critically ill dogs when compared to a healthy control population (P = 0.0009, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001 respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Illness has a significant impact on urinary catecholamines and their metabolites in dogs. Further investigation of catecholamine and metanephrine concentrations in dogs with pheochromocytomas is warranted to fully evaluate this test as a diagnostic tool, however the findings of this study suggest that the results may be difficult to interpret in dogs with concurrent illness.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Veterinary Medical Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Veterinary Medical Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Cameron, Kristin Nicole

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Monroe, William E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Leib, Michael S.
• Meldrum, James Blair
• Panciera, David L.

• pheochromocytoma
• critical illness
• norepinephrine
• dog
• metanephrine
• catecholamines
• normetanephrine

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05012010-174057

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76977