Kim_2026_J.Vet.Intern.Med_40_

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have evaluated the association between myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and pancreatic lipase activity, but medications remain unconsidered. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Elevated serum pancreatic lipase activity is related to cardiac medication in dogs with MMVD. ANIMALS: Eighty-two client-owned dogs without clinical signs of pancreatitis (MMVD, n = 67 [stage B1 = 24; stage B2 = 22; non-medicated stage C = 9; medicated stage C = 12]; controls, n = 15). METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Dogs were classified into MMVD stage and control groups. Serum pancreatic lipase activity was compared among groups, and correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In non-medicated dogs, pancreatic lipase activity did not differ among groups. In contrast, medicated stage C dogs had higher pancreatic lipase activity than controls (median difference, 67.5 U/L; 95% CI, 19.0-184.0), stage B1 (57.0 U/L; 95% CI, 12.0-145.0), stage B2 (65.8 U/L; 95% CI, 18.0-156.0), and non-medicated stage C (58.0 U/L; 95% CI, 9.0-268.0). Moreover, 25% (3/12) of medicated stage C dogs had pancreatic lipase activity exceeding 400 U/L, whereas no non-medicated stage C dogs reached this threshold. Pancreatic lipase activity was positively correlated with furosemide (ro = 0.67) and duration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ro = 0.62) administration. In multivariable analysis, medication was the independent predictor of pancreatic lipase activity in dogs with MMVD. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Pancreatic lipase activity might be elevated in some dogs with MMVD receiving cardiac medications, highlighting the importance of considering medication history in clinical interpretation.