Overview
- Often measured when lipemic plasma noted in fasting animal.
- Quantification involves measurement of serum triglycerides plus cholesterol.
- Must be carried out after 12 hour fast.
- Measured by spectrophotometry or enzymatic methods.
- Lipemia may cause artefactual variation in other laboratory tests.
Uses
Alone
- When lipemia or hyperlipidemia suspected on gross examination of serum or plasma from fasting animal.
- In diagnosis of primary hyperlipidemia
. Miniature Schnauzers and Beagles predisposed.
In combination
- Thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine measurement : screening for hypothyroidism .
- Blood glucose : screening for diabetes mellitus .
- ACTH stimulation test : diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism .
Other points
- Hyperlipidemia may also be detected by finding opalescence of the anterior chamber of the eye.
- Hyperlipidemia may be found in normal dogs.
Result data
Normal (reference) values
- Total lipids: 4-8.5 g/l.
- Cholesterol: 0.8-3.0 g/l (2-7.8 mmol/l)
- Triglycerides: 0.1-5.0 g/l (0.11-5.7 mmol/l).
Abnormal values
Hyperlipidemia
- Diabetes mellitus .
- Hypothyroidism .
- Pancreatitis .
- Hyperadrenocorticism .
- Hepatic disease .
- Nephrotic syndrome .
- Gram-negative sepsis .
- Primary hyperlipidemia .
- Rare.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Protein-losing enteropathy .
Errors and Artifacts
- Icterus may falsely increase cholesterol.
- Lipaemia may interfere with many spectrophotometric tests.
- Recent meal.
- Obesity.
- Drug therapy, eg ascorbic acid, heparin, anabolic steroids.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Barrie J, Watson T D G, Stear M J & Nash A S (1993) Plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations in the dog. JSAP 34 , 507. (Review of causes of secondary hyperlipidemia.)
Other sources of information
- Barrie J & Watson T D G (1995) Hyperlipidaemia. In: Current Veterinary Therapy XII.Eds: J D Bonagura & R W Kirk. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. pp 430-434. ISBN 0-7216-5188-7. (Good overview.)
