Quantitative Pancreatic Ultrasonography and Vcheck cPL Rapid Test in Dogs with Suspected Acute Pancreatitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of quantitative ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs, as well as to examine the correlation between the results of ultrasound examination and the Vcheck cPL rapid test in dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. A total of 37 dogs were included to the study – 15 healthy dogs and 22 dogs with gastrointestinal clinical signs which had at least 1 out of 3 criteria (vomiting, cranial abdominal pain and jaundice). Serum was collected to evaluate cPL level by Vcheck cPL rapid test. A score 0 implied the Vcheck cPL Rapid test result was less than 200 ng/ml. A score 1 implied Vcheck cPL Rapid test result between 200 and 400 ng/ml, and a score 2 more than 400 ng/ml. Ultrasound was performed in all dogs in order to investigate the pancreatic lesions within 48 hours and evaluate the level of pancreatitis by score from 0 to 2. The criteria for pancreatitis on ultrasonograms included enlargement or irregularity of the pancreas, hypoechoic areas of the pancreas and hyperechoic mesentery surrounding the pancreas. An ultrasound assessment of pancreatitis implied: score 0 when none of the criteria was present. Score 1 when 1–2 from 3 criteria were present, and score 2 when all of the 3 criteria were present. Correlation between Vcheck cPL Rapid test and pancreatic ultrasonography was examined. The results indicate that agreement of Vcheck cPL Rapid test and pancreatic ultrasonography had kappa values of 0.71 which are in the “moderate” agreement range. This means that both Vcheck cPL Rapid test and ultrasonography should be used in the diagnostics of acute pancreatitis in daily clinical practice. Additionally, quantitative ultrasound assessment can be helpful in distinguishing acute pancreatitis from normal pancreas.