Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D receptor, and vitamin D binding protein concentrations in dogs with acute pancreatitis compared to healthy control dogs

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies have documented vitamin D imbalance in dogs with acute pancreatitis (AP), but no studies have investigated serum vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D‐binding protein (VDBP) concentrations. Objectives Compare serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), VDR, and VDBP concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with AP and identify correlations between these concentrations with ionized calcium, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and canine‐specific pancreatic lipase (Spec cPL) concentrations. Animals Twenty‐two dogs with AP and 20 healthy control dogs. Methods Prospective cross‐sectional study. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured using a chemiluminescence immunoassay, and VDR and VDBP concentrations were measured using a ELISA kit designed for dogs. Results Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were lower in dogs with AP (mean ± SD, 66.1 ± 39.2 ng/mL) than in controls (96.8 ± 30.4 ng/mL; P = .01), and VDR concentrations were lower in dogs with AP (5.3 ± 3.5 ng/mL) than in controls (7.4 ± 2.5 ng/mL; P = .03). No difference was observed in serum VDBP concentrations between the groups. Serum VDR concentrations differed between survivors (median [interquartile range] = 6.6 [4.3‐8.2] ng/mL) and nonsurvivors (2.7 [0.5‐3.5] ng/mL; P = .01). Negative correlations were observed among serum VDR, CRP (rs = −0.55), and Spec cPL (rs = −0.47) concentrations in dogs with AP. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with AP had lower serum 25(OH)D and VDR concentrations than controls. Additionally, our study suggests a potential role of VDR expression in the inflammatory process of AP in dogs.

Keywords

• calcifediol
• canine
• pancreatic inflammation
• VDBP
• VDR