Agreement of serum feline pancreas-specific lipase and colorimetric lipase assays with pancreatic ultrasonographic findings in cats with suspicion of pancreatitis: 161 cases (2008-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate agreement of a feline pancreas-specific lipase assay and a colorimetric lipase assay with a 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6'-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) substrate with results of pancreatic ultrasonography in cats with suspicion of pancreatitis. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 161 client-owned cats with suspicion of pancreatitis. PROCEDURES: Feline pancreas-specific lipase concentration and DGGR lipase activity were measured from the same blood sample in cats undergoing investigation for pancreatitis, with < 24 hours between ultrasonography and lipase determinations. Ultrasonographic variables evaluated were ultrasonographic diagnosis of pancreatitis, enlargement, margins, echogenicity, mesenteric echogenicity, peripancreatic free fluid, cysts, masses, and common bile and pancreatic duct dilation. Agreement was assessed by use of the Cohen κ coefficient. RESULTS: Agreement between the lipase assays was substantial (κ = 0.703). An ultrasonographic diagnosis of pancreatitis had fair agreement with feline pancreas-specific lipase concentration > 5.4 µg/L (κ = 0.264) and DGGR lipase activity > 26 U/L (κ = 0.221). The greatest agreement between feline pancreas-specific lipase concentration > 5.4 µg/L and DGGR lipase activity > 26 U/L was found for a hypoechoic and mixed-echoic (κ = 0.270 and 0.266, respectively), hypoechoic (κ = 0.261 and 0.181, respectively), and enlarged (κ = 0.218 and 0.223, respectively) pancreas. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Agreement between pancreatic ultrasonography and lipase assay results was only fair. It remains unknown whether lipase results or pancreatic ultrasonography constitutes the more accurate test for diagnosing pancreatitis; therefore, results of both tests need to be interpreted with caution.