Pancreas Flashcards
What dog breeds are predisposed to acute pancreatitis?
Miniature Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, other terriers
What dog breeds are predisposed to chronic pancreatitis?
Cavaliers, English Cockers, Boxers, Collies
Miniature Schnauzers with a history of pancreatitis are how many more times likely to have hypertriglyceridemia than Miniature Schnauzers without pancreatitis?
5 times more likely
What canine infection has been linked to acute pancreatitis?
Babesiosis
What drugs were linked to acute pancreatitis in up to 10% of treated dogs?
Phenobarbital and potassium bromide
What is the key factor in initiating pancreatic inflammation?
Activation of trypsin within the acinar cells
What are 3 causes of trypsin activation within the acinar cell?
- Blockage of acinar cell apex in the pancreatic duct or abnormalities in calcium signaling, leading to co-localization and fusion of zymogen and lysosomal granules
- Autoactivation (more likely when pH >5)
- Cathepsin B
- Enterokinase entering the portal circulation due to biliary-pancreatic reflux
What is the self-defense mechanism against intrapancreatic trypsin activation and when it is overwhelmed?
Intracellular pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor - overwhelmed when more than 10% of intracellular trypsin is activated
What shifts the balance between apoptosis of pancreatic cells and necrosis?
Infiltration of neutrophils, production of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and phospholipase A3
What breed is thought to develop an autoimmune form of chronic pancreatitis?
English Cocker Spaniels
What diagnostic has the highest reported sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of feline pancreatitis?
Spec fPL
What is the overall agreement between Spec fPL and DGGR lipase? Between Spec cPL and DGGR?
fPL; kappa 0.65-0.75
cPL; kappa 0.68
What are the causes of EPI in dogs and cats?
Common:
- Destruction of the pancreatic acinar cells due to chronic pancreatitis (50% dogs, 100% of cats)
- Depletion of acinar cells due to pancreatic acinar atrophy (50% dogs)
Rare:
- Obstruction of the pancreatic duct by a tumor or surgical ligation
- Pancreatic aplasia/hypoplasia in very young patients
Pancreatic acinar atrophy occurs in what dog breeds?
GSD, Rough coated Collies, Eurasians
- May be autosomal recessive inherited in GSDs
Clinical signs of EPI occur when what percent of the pancreas function is lost?
> 90%
What are the clinical signs of EPI?
- Weight loss with an increased appetite
- Coprophagia or pica (D)
- Loose stools
- Borborygmi or flatulence
What does TLI measure?
Cationic trypsinogen and trypsin
Describe 2 scenarios where TLI may be normal despite the patient having EPI
- Dog with isolated pancreatic lipase deficiency (has trypsin, so TLI is normal)
- Patient with obstructed pancreatic duct (producing enzymes, just not getting to the SI)
What is the most common and effective method of pancreatic enzyme replacement?
Dried pancreatic extract from pork pancreas - powder formulation seems more effective than tablets/capsules
What breed may be predisposed to exocrine pancreatic tumors?
Airedale Terriers
What is a common paraneoplastic presentation of cats with pancreatic neoplasia?
Alopecia - most prominent on the ventral abdomen but can involve the limbs and paws
What percent of cats have evidence of pancreatitis on necropsy?
- 66% (50% chronic, 6% acute, 9% both)
- When only healthy cats are considered 45% had evidence of pancreatitis
Zymogens can be activated within the pancreatic acinar cell by what mechanism, leading to pancreatitis?
Activated by thrombin during bacterial toxemia, ischemia, or hypoxia
The pancreatic inflammation in acute pancreatitis is dependent on ongoing stimulation of what pathway?
NFkappaB
What events follow activation of trypsinogen and acinar cell death?
Influx of neutrophils, increased vascular permeability, and loss of apical paracellular barriers