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[Comparative measurement using the GlucoMen®LX PLUS and a reference method to quantify β-hydroxybutyrate in dogs and
Mirjam Weiß1, Fabian Schramm1, Dorothee Dahlem1
1Klinik für Kleintiere, Innere Medizin, klinische Pathophysiologie und klinische Laboratoriumsdiagnostik, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.
Objectives:
The detection of ketone bodies in urinary samples often underestimates the degree of ketonuria and may lead to false negative results due to the lack of detection of β-hydroxybutyrate. In human medicine, the standard method used to quantify and monitor ketonemia is the measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in whole blood samples which is associated with a higher sensitivity. For this, only few devices have to date been evaluated in veterinary medicine. These have shown limitations in areas of high β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. The aim of the study was to compare the portable ketone meter GlucoMen®LX PLUS with a reference method for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in canine and feline venous blood samples.
Material And Methods:
In this prosepctive study, a total of 47 dogs and 55 cats were enrolled. These cases comprised patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetes mellitus and catabolic metabolism as well as healthy individuals. Comparison between the GlucoMen®LX PLUS ketone meter and an enzymatic reaction method by an automated chemistry analyzer was performed. Measurement results of dogs and cats were evaluated separately.
Results:
There was a high correlation between measurement values of the GlucoMen®LX PLUS and the enzymatic reaction laboratory method in dogs (R = 0.99, p < 0.001) and cats (R = 0.98, p < 0.001). Mean difference was 0.01 mmol/l (SD ± 0.20) in dogs and 0.05 mmol/l (SD ± 0.29) in cats. In 44 % of all dogs and cats the GlucoMen®LX PLUS measured lower values in comparison to the reference method. Greater differences between the 2 measurement methods were apparent in both high and low β-hydroxybutyrate concentration ranges (dogs, R = -0.762 and cats, R = -0.86). In high concentration areas, the GlucoMen®LX PLUS led to slightly lower results, whereas in low concentration areas slightly higher values were measured.
Conclusion:
The GlucoMen®LX PLUS shows a strong correlation with the standard reference method and is useful for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in canine and feline venous blood samples. Limitations can be seen in high concentration ranges of β-hydroxybutyrate in which the GlucoMen®LX PLUS resulted in slightly lower measurement values.
Clinical Relevance:
The GlucoMen®LX PLUS is a cost-effective portable device representing a viable alternative to urinary ketone body measurement.
