Sensitivity and specificity of fasting ammonia and serum bile acids in the diagnosis of portosystemic shunts in dogs and cats

Abstract

Increased fasting ammonia and SBA concentrations are accurate indicators of PSS. An improvement in diagnostic accuracy can be achieved by using defined optimal cut-off points for the selective diagnosis of PSS.

Long‐term serum bile acid concentrations in 51 dogs after complete extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt ligation

“…Serum bile acids (SBAs) are commonly used as a diagnostic test for CPSS as well as to monitor response to surgery, due to the practical ease of performing the test and its high specificity and sensitivity (Ruland et al . , Winkler et al . ).…”

Successful Treatment Using Coil Embolization of a Symptomatic Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunt Developing through a Patent Ductus Venosus in a Noncirrhotic Adult

“…In the enterohepatic circulation, almost all bile acids are removed from the portal blood by hepatocytes and recycled back into the biliary system. Increases in the serum bile acid concentrations can be induced by the existence of portosystemic venous shunts (27).…”

Hepatic encephalopathy in dogs and cats

“…In the authors’ experience, the same is true for cats. Plasma ammonia measurement is sensitive for the detection of portosystemic shunting in dogs and cats . Generally, hyperammonemia indicates portosystemic shunting or hepatic insufficiency, although animals with urea cycle enzyme deficiencies may also have increased blood ammonia concentrations.…”