In-hospital mortality in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy and associated risk factors

Abstract

Background: Risk factors associated with negative outcomes in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) are well documented. However, mortality before hospital discharge and associated risk factors are not well described. Hypothesis/Objectives: Report the percentage of dogs with PLE that do not survive to hospital discharge and identify associated risk factors. Animals: One-hundred and seven dogs presented to a referral hospital and diagnosed with PLE caused by inflammatory enteritis, intestinal lymphangiectasia or both. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study assessing hospital records. Data on in-hospital mortality and cause were assessed, and presenting signs, treatments prescribed, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin, globulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, and histopathologic findings were compared between survivors and non-survivors. Results: In-hospital mortality was 21.5% with the most common causes including financial limitations, failure to improve and aspiration pneumonia. Factors associated with mortality during hospitalization included longer duration of hospitalization (P =.04), longer duration of clinical signs (P =.02) and an increase in serum CRP concentration after 1–3 days of in-hospital treatment (P =.02). Higher mortality was identified in Pugs (odds ratio [OR], 4.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–17.2; P =.01) and was a result of presumptive aspiration pneumonia in 5/6 of these dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Protein-losing enteropathy in dogs has substantial mortality during hospitalization. Monitoring for improvement in CRP concentration after treatment during hospitalization may help predict survival to discharge. Pugs have increased in-hospital mortality because of aspiration pneumonia; measures to prevent, recognize, and promptly treat this complication may improve outcomes in this breed.