INVESTIGATIONS INTO HYPERLIPIDEMIA AND ITS POSSIBLE ...

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CHAPTER VI
SERUM TRIGLYCERIDE AND CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATIONS AND
LIPOPROTEIN PROFILES IN DOGS WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING
PANCREATITIS AND HEALTHY CONTROL DOGS
Introduction
The association between hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis remains obscure in
dogs, but has been speculated to be bidirectional. 252
Hyperlipidemia, and more
specifically hypertriglyceridemia, has been hypothesized to be able to cause pancreatitis
in some circumstances. 252 This hypothesis is supported by the results of 2 recent clinical
studies in dogs, 279,280 and is further supported by in vitro studies 260 and clinical studies in
humans. 254,267 On the other hand, hyperlipidemia has also been hypothesized to be the
result of pancreatitis. 165,254
Although this hypothesis is widely believed to be true,
evidence supporting this hypothesis has not been documented in dogs with naturally
occurring pancreatitis. Hypertriglyceridemia has been commonly reported in dogs with
pancreatitis, but the etiology of hypertriglyceridemia often remains unknown in these
cases. 19,21,63-65 Furthermore, with the exception of the results of 1 older study, 261
hypertriglyceridemia has not been reported to be a consequence of experimental
pancreatitis in dogs. 18-20 However, experimental models of pancreatitis do not always
mirror the pathophysiologic mechanisms that apply to spontaneous disease.
Studies specifically investigating the lipid status and lipoprotein profiles of dogs
with spontaneous pancreatitis have not been reported. Characterization of the lipid