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Study reveals insights into canine hypoadrenocorticism
"Clinicians should always use method-specific thresholds and, if these are not available, then they should exercise greater caution in their interpretation.”

Researchers identify differences in electrolyte measurements between point-of-care and reference analysers.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have revealed inherent differences between the electrolyte concentrations measured by point-of-care analysers and reference laboratory methods in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.

Canine hypoadrenocorticism - also known as Addison's disease - is a rare, life-threatening condition caused when adrenal glands fail to produce enough hormones for normal body function.

The study, published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, investigated the performance of two point-of-care analysers (IDEXX Catalyst Dx and IDEXX VetStat) against a reference laboratory method for the measurement of blood sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations. It also looked at sodium-to-potassium ratios in dogs diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism.

Some 48 dogs with hypoadrenocorticism were enrolled in the study, in which a total of 329 paired samples were measured on the Catalyst analyser and by the ion-selective electrode (ISE). Researchers tested another 72 paired samples on both the VetStat analyser and by ISE.

Sam Fowlie, a corresponding author for the paper, said: “Our results indicate that the sodium, potassium and therefore the sodium-to-potassium ratios, as well as the chloride concentrations measured by the Catalyst and VetStat analysers, may not be used interchangeably with those from a reference laboratory analyser using an indirect ISE method.

"Both analysers tended to give higher results than the reference method for all analytes, except for potassium when measured on the VetStat.”

The clinical effects of any difference in the electrolyte results were also investigated. For the Catalyst, there were 21 cases with discordant sodium results, 27 cases with discordant potassium results and 46 cases with discordant chloride results. The VetStat meanwhile produced results which disagreed with the ISE method in 19 cases for sodium, three cases for potassium measurement and nine cases for chloride analysis.

JSAP editor Nicola Di Girolamo, said: “This study reveals significant systematic differences (“bias”) between the three analysers in this study. Comparing numerical results from different analytical methods – be they point-of-care or reference laboratories – can be dangerous for patients.

"Clinicians should always use method-specific thresholds and, if these are not available (for example the sodium-to-potassium ratios on some analysers), then they should exercise greater caution in their interpretation.”

Image (C) Ian Ramsey.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.