Plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 concentrations are lower in dogs with chronic enteropathies than in healthy dogs

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE To compare plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) concentrations in dogs with treatment-naïve chronic enteropathies to healthy dogs and describe changes over time in dogs with chronic enteropathies (CE). ANIMALS 18 client-owned dogs with treatment-naïve CE and 17 client-owned healthy control dogs. METHODS This was a prospective study. Fasting, 1-hour, and 3-hour postprandial plasma GLP-2 concentrations were measured using a commercial immunoassay in healthy dogs and dogs with uncontrolled, untreated CE. Repeated fasting and postprandial plasma concentrations were measured in dogs with CE after initiating directed treatment for gastrointestinal disease. RESULTS There was no significant difference between fasting and postprandial GLP-2 concentrations in either group. Dogs with treatment-naïve CE had lower fasting (mean, 424 ± SD 176 pg/mL) plasma GLP-2 concentrations than healthy dogs (1184 ± 435 pg/mL; P < .0001). Fasted plasma GLP-2 concentrations (624 ± 314 pg/mL) remained lower in dogs with CE than in healthy dogs at recheck. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs with CE have disrupted GLP-2 secretion. Future studies are required to evaluate subsets of CE and changes in response to therapy.