Acute pancreatitis is a common disorder of the exocrine pancreas in dogs. This disease is characterized by premature activation of digestive enzymes, release of inflammatory mediators, and variable systemic responses. In human medicine, several studie...
Acute pancreatitis is a common disorder of the exocrine pancreas in dogs. This disease is characterized by premature activation of digestive enzymes, release of inflammatory mediators, and variable systemic responses. In human medicine, several studies have shown that long-term glycemic status, reflected by glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), is closely associated with disease severity, organ failure, and clinical outcomes.
HbA1c is a stable product that reflects blood glucose concentration during red blood cell survival, which is about 2 to 3 months in dogs. It is less affected by transient glycemic changes than fructosamine. Species-specific differences in erythrocyte glycation characteristics contribute to the relatively narrow physiological range of HbA1c in dogs.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of HbA1c in dogs diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and to investigate whether HbA1c is associated with acute inflammatory response as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP). Fifteen dogs with clinical signs compatible with acute pancreatitis and an abnormal SNAP cPL® test result, and fifteen clinically healthy control dogs, were enrolled. HbA1c was quantified using the CLOVER A1c Vet analyzer, and CRP, fructosamine, and other hematologic variables were measured at presentation.
In this study, HbA1c values showed no significant difference between AP dogs and controls, and no significant correlation between HbA1c and CRP within the AP group. These findings may be attributed to the limited biological variability of HbA1c in dogs, the lack of persistent hyperglycemia in the study population, and the temporal mismatch between HbA1c and CRP. In conclusion, a single HbA1c measurement appears insufficient for assessing acute inflammatory status or severity in dogs with acute pancreatitis.