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 a-macroglobulin levels were assesse d in serum and plasma samples taken at presentation from 60 cases of sponta neous canine acute pancreatitis of varying clinical severity. Total alpha-m acroglobulin was significantly decreased in all severity groups when compar ed to 119 healthy controls, however there were no significant differences b etween severity groups. Trypsin-Iike immunoreactivity was significantly ele vated above assay reference range in all groups. Try-pain-like immunoreacti vity was significantly elevated in dogs with severe disease when compared t o those with mild disease. These results suggest that zymogen release and p rotease 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.