Objective. To examine the usefulness of corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase as a diagnostic test.; Design. Retrospective.; Sample population. Data set A: Dogs over 12 months of age admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital (OVC-VTH) between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 1997, with a total alkaline phosphatase > 2000 IU/L on presentation. Data set B: The initial biochemical profile of all dogs not born in 1997 or 1998, admitted to the OVC-VTH for the first time between January 1 and December 31, 1998, who had a biochemical profile performed.; Procedures. Generation of receiver operator characteristic plots to identify activities of serum absolute corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase (CALP) and relative activities of CALP (%CALP) useful for diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Determination of other diseases and medications associated with CALP at these values using odds ratios with confidence intervals. Diagnostic comparison between CALP or %CALP and clinical signs. Modeling a dose-response relationship between cumulative prednisone dose and CALP or %CALP.; Results. Of medications, only corticosteroids were highly associated with CALP and %CALP in dogs with elevated alkaline phosphatase. CALP of 50% had a sensitivity of 100% for the diagnosis of HAC in all groups. Alimentary diseases were sparing for CALP. Clinical signs were as useful as measuring CALP or %CALP to diagnose HAC. No dose response relationship was evident between steroid exposure and CALP or %CALP.; Conclusion and clinical relevance. Clinicians can request CALP if the dog is not exposed to corticosteroids, has elevated total alkaline phosphatase, and does not have clinical signs consistent with liver disease. If CALP is 50%, hyperadrenocorticism is effectively ruled out. Routine measurement of CALP on biochemical profiles is not recommended.*; *This dissertation includes a CD that is compound (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following applications: Windows 95/98 or higher, Microsoft Office, QuickTime.
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