Levels of total alpha-macroglobulin and trypsin-like immunoreactivity are poor indicators of clinical severity in spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis.

Trypsin-like immunoreactivity and total alpha-macroglobulin levels were assessed in serum and plasma samples taken at presentation from 60 cases of spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis of varying clinical severity. Total alpha-macroglobulin was significantly decreased in all severity groups when compared to 119 healthy controls, however there were no significant differences between severity groups. Trypsin-like immunoreactivity was significantly elevated above assay reference range in all groups. Trypsin-like immunoreactivity was significantly elevated in dogs with severe disease when compared to those with mild disease. These results suggest that zymogen release and protease activation, while components of the pathology of spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis, are not directly associated with the onset of multiple organ failure seen in the most severe cases.