Investigations into idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia in the Miniature Schnauzer in North America

Xenoulis, Panagiotis (2008): Investigations into idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia in the Miniature Schnauzer in North America. Dissertation, LMU München: Tierärztliche Fakultät

Abstract

Idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia has been reported in Miniature Schnauzers. However, studies investigating the prevalence of this disorder in a large population of Miniature Schnauzers are lacking. 192 healthy Miniature Schnauzers and 38 healthy dogs of other breeds (control dogs) were enrolled in this study. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were measured and statistically compared between the Miniature Schnauzers and the control group. Dogs were categorized based on their age, and median serum triglyceride concentrations were compared among different age groups. A total of 63 (32.8%) of the 192 Miniature Schnauzers had serum triglyceride concentrations above the upper limit of the reference range. In contrast, of the 38 control dogs, only 2 (5.3%) had serum triglyceride concentrations above the upper limit of the reference range. The median serum triglyceride concentration in Miniature Schnauzers was 73.5 mg/dL, which was significantly higher compared to that of the control group (median: 55 mg/dL; p=0.0005). Serum cholesterol concentration was above the upper limit of the reference range in 9 (9.0%) of 100 Miniature Schnauzers and in 2 (5.3%) of the control dogs. Mean serum cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p=0.1374). Median serum triglyceride concentrations in Miniature Schnauzers increased significantly with age (p<0.0001), and there was a significant positive correlation between serum triglyceride concentration and age (Spearman r=0.47; p<0.0001). There was no difference in serum triglyceride concentrations between male and female Miniature Schnauzers (p=0.48). Healthy Miniature Schnauzers had a high prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia compared to healthy dogs of other breeds. Both the prevalence and severity of hypertriglyceridemia increased with age. To determine whether hypertriglyceridemia in healthy Miniature Schnauzers was associated with increased serum liver enzyme activities, 65 Miniature Schnauzers with normal serum triglyceride concentrations (group 1), 20 Miniature Schnauzers with slightly increased serum triglyceride concentrations (group 2), and 20 Miniature Schnauzers with moderately to severely increased serum triglyceride concentrations (group 3) were evaluated. Questionnaires regarding each dog’s medical history were collected, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and ã-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities were measured. Median serum ALP activity was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1 or 2, but was not significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. Median serum ALT activity was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1, but was not significantly different between any of the other groups. Compared with group 1, group 2 and 3 were significantly more likely to have an increased serum ALP activity (odds ratio, 26.2 and 192.6, respectively). Group 3 was also significantly more likely to have an increased serum ALT activity (odds ratio, 8.0), serum AST activity (odds ratio, 3.7), or serum GGT activity (odds ratio, 11.3), than group 1. Group 3 was significantly more likely (odds ratio, 31.0) to have . 2 high serum liver enzyme activities than was group 1. Results suggested that moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia was associated with high serum liver enzyme activities in Miniature Schnauzers.

• Dokumententyp: Dissertationen (Dissertation, LMU München)
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 590 Tiere (Zoologie) ; 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik
• Fakultäten: Tierärztliche Fakultät
• Sprache der Hochschulschrift: Englisch
• Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: 18. Juli 2008
• 1. Bericht­erstatter:in: Hirschberger, Johannes