Biochemical and coagulation changes in a canine model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis

Acute necrotizing (hemorrhagic) pancreatitis was induced in 12 dogs by infusing oleic acid into their pancreatic ducts. There were decreases in blood pH, complement, antithrombin III, blood platelets, 24- and 48-hour plasminogen, and 24-hour haptoglobin and modest decreases in serum albumin. There were increases in fibrinogen, 48- to 120-hour haptoglobin, and 96-hour and 120-hour plasminogen and prolongations of prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. The latter 2 changes together with decreases in antithrombin III, platelet numbers, and complement were indicative of consumption coagulopathy. A clinically innocuous but statistically significant decrease in serum total and ionized calcium despite significant acidosis was noted. This indicates that serum total and ionized calcium is helpful in making the diagnosis of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Methemalbuminemia of 6 mg/dl at 24 hours and 7 mg/dl at 48 hours indicates that methemalbuminemia is a valuable diagnostic and prognostic finding in association with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.