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Serial blood lactate concentrations in systemically ill dogs
Author(s) -
Stevenson, Connie K.,
Kidney, Beverly A.,
Duke, Tanya,
Snead, Elisabeth C. R.,
MainarJaime, Raul C.,
Jackson Marion L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2007.tb00217.x
Subject(s) - hyperlactatemia , medicine , blood lactate , confidence interval , prospective cohort study , lactic acid , biology , blood pressure , heart rate , bacteria , genetics
Background: Lactate concentration often is quantified in systemically ill dogs and interpreted based on human data. To our knowledge, there are no published clinical studies evaluating serial lactate concentrations as a prognostic indicator in ill dogs. Objectives: Our objective was to perform a prospective study, using multivariate analysis, to determine whether serial lactate concentrations were associated with outcome in ill dogs requiring intravenous fluids. Methods: Eighty sick dogs had lactate concentrations evaluated, using an analyzer that measures lactate in the plasma fraction of heparinized whole blood, at 0 hours and 6 hours after initiation of treatment. Severity of illness and outcome (survivor, nonsurvivor) were determined by reviewing the patient's record 2 weeks after admission. Lactate concentrations, age, body weight, gender, and severity of illness were evaluated using multivariate analysis to determine their effects on outcome. Results: Dogs with lactate concentrations greater than the reference interval at 6 hours were 16 times (95% confidence interval = 2.32–112.71 times, P < .01) more likely not to survive compared to dogs with lactate concentrations within the reference interval. Lactate concentrations above the reference interval at 0 hours were not significantly related to outcome. However, hyperlactatemia that did not improve by ≥50% within 6 hours was significantly associated with mortality ( P = .024). Conclusion: Dogs with a lactate concentration higher than the reference interval at 6 hours were more likely not to survive. These results indicate an association between lactate concentration and outcome and emphasize the importance of serial lactate concentrations in evaluating prognosis.