Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia

Elizabeth M. Groth; Dennis J. Chew; Jody P. Lulich; Megan Tommet; Aaron K. Rendahl; Brian D. Husbands; Eva Furrow

doi:10.1111/jvim.15654

Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia

Elizabeth M. Groth, Dennis J. Chew, Jody P. Lulich, Megan Tommet, Aaron K. Rendahl, Brian D. Husbands, Eva Furrow

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Total serum calcium (tCa) concentrations are poorly predictive of ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs.

HYPOTHESIS: There is an optimal threshold of tCa concentration that is highly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia and this threshold is higher in hyperphosphatemic dogs as compared to nonhyperphosphatemic dogs.

ANIMALS: Nonhyperphosphatemic (n = 1593) and hyperphosphatemic (n = 250) adult dogs.

METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of paired tCa and iCa concentration measurements in dogs presented to a university teaching hospital over a 5-year period. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for tCa concentration thresholds of 11.0-15.0 mg/dL (upper limit of laboratory reference interval = 11.5 mg/dL) in nonhyperphosphatemic and hyperphosphatemic groups.

RESULTS: In nonhyperphosphatemic dogs, an optimal tCa concentration threshold of 12.0 mg/dL resulted in a positive predictive value of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%-98%) and sensitivity of 52% (95% CI, 43%-61%) for ionized hypercalcemia. An optimal tCa concentration threshold was not identified for hyperphosphatemic dogs. The nonhyperphosphatemic dogs had a higher prevalence of ionized hypercalcemia than the hyperphosphatemic dogs (7 versus 3%, P = .04) and a lower prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia (23 versus 62%, respectively; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High tCa concentrations are strongly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia in nonhyperphosphatemic adult dogs and should prompt further diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of hypercalcemia. In this population, dogs without increased tCa concentrations rarely had ionized hypercalcemia, but iCa concentrations still should be evaluated in patients with tCa concentrations within the reference interval if there is clinical suspicion for calcium abnormalities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	74-82
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Volume	34
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15654
State	Published - Jan 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Keywords

calcium
canine
hypercalcemia
ionized calcium
phosphorus
Predictive Value of Tests
Male
Dog Diseases/blood
Animals
Hypercalcemia/blood
Dogs
Female
Hyperphosphatemia/blood
Calcium/blood

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article

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10.1111/jvim.15654

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@article{4cebfaa3c239499c945b7a96de52ee23,

title = "Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Total serum calcium (tCa) concentrations are poorly predictive of ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs.HYPOTHESIS: There is an optimal threshold of tCa concentration that is highly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia and this threshold is higher in hyperphosphatemic dogs as compared to nonhyperphosphatemic dogs.ANIMALS: Nonhyperphosphatemic (n = 1593) and hyperphosphatemic (n = 250) adult dogs.METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of paired tCa and iCa concentration measurements in dogs presented to a university teaching hospital over a 5-year period. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for tCa concentration thresholds of 11.0-15.0 mg/dL (upper limit of laboratory reference interval = 11.5 mg/dL) in nonhyperphosphatemic and hyperphosphatemic groups.RESULTS: In nonhyperphosphatemic dogs, an optimal tCa concentration threshold of 12.0 mg/dL resulted in a positive predictive value of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%-98%) and sensitivity of 52% (95% CI, 43%-61%) for ionized hypercalcemia. An optimal tCa concentration threshold was not identified for hyperphosphatemic dogs. The nonhyperphosphatemic dogs had a higher prevalence of ionized hypercalcemia than the hyperphosphatemic dogs (7 versus 3%, P = .04) and a lower prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia (23 versus 62%, respectively; P < .001).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High tCa concentrations are strongly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia in nonhyperphosphatemic adult dogs and should prompt further diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of hypercalcemia. In this population, dogs without increased tCa concentrations rarely had ionized hypercalcemia, but iCa concentrations still should be evaluated in patients with tCa concentrations within the reference interval if there is clinical suspicion for calcium abnormalities.",

keywords = "calcium, canine, hypercalcemia, ionized calcium, phosphorus, Predictive Value of Tests, Male, Dog Diseases/blood, Animals, Hypercalcemia/blood, Dogs, Female, Hyperphosphatemia/blood, Calcium/blood",

author = "Groth, {Elizabeth M.} and Chew, {Dennis J.} and Lulich, {Jody P.} and Megan Tommet and Rendahl, {Aaron K.} and Husbands, {Brian D.} and Eva Furrow",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/jvim.15654",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "34",

pages = "74--82",

journal = "Journal of veterinary internal medicine",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia

AU - Groth, Elizabeth M.

AU - Chew, Dennis J.

AU - Lulich, Jody P.

AU - Tommet, Megan

AU - Rendahl, Aaron K.

AU - Husbands, Brian D.

AU - Furrow, Eva

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Total serum calcium (tCa) concentrations are poorly predictive of ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs.HYPOTHESIS: There is an optimal threshold of tCa concentration that is highly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia and this threshold is higher in hyperphosphatemic dogs as compared to nonhyperphosphatemic dogs.ANIMALS: Nonhyperphosphatemic (n = 1593) and hyperphosphatemic (n = 250) adult dogs.METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of paired tCa and iCa concentration measurements in dogs presented to a university teaching hospital over a 5-year period. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for tCa concentration thresholds of 11.0-15.0 mg/dL (upper limit of laboratory reference interval = 11.5 mg/dL) in nonhyperphosphatemic and hyperphosphatemic groups.RESULTS: In nonhyperphosphatemic dogs, an optimal tCa concentration threshold of 12.0 mg/dL resulted in a positive predictive value of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%-98%) and sensitivity of 52% (95% CI, 43%-61%) for ionized hypercalcemia. An optimal tCa concentration threshold was not identified for hyperphosphatemic dogs. The nonhyperphosphatemic dogs had a higher prevalence of ionized hypercalcemia than the hyperphosphatemic dogs (7 versus 3%, P = .04) and a lower prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia (23 versus 62%, respectively; P < .001).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High tCa concentrations are strongly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia in nonhyperphosphatemic adult dogs and should prompt further diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of hypercalcemia. In this population, dogs without increased tCa concentrations rarely had ionized hypercalcemia, but iCa concentrations still should be evaluated in patients with tCa concentrations within the reference interval if there is clinical suspicion for calcium abnormalities.

AB - BACKGROUND: Total serum calcium (tCa) concentrations are poorly predictive of ionized calcium (iCa) status in dogs.HYPOTHESIS: There is an optimal threshold of tCa concentration that is highly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia and this threshold is higher in hyperphosphatemic dogs as compared to nonhyperphosphatemic dogs.ANIMALS: Nonhyperphosphatemic (n = 1593) and hyperphosphatemic (n = 250) adult dogs.METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of paired tCa and iCa concentration measurements in dogs presented to a university teaching hospital over a 5-year period. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for tCa concentration thresholds of 11.0-15.0 mg/dL (upper limit of laboratory reference interval = 11.5 mg/dL) in nonhyperphosphatemic and hyperphosphatemic groups.RESULTS: In nonhyperphosphatemic dogs, an optimal tCa concentration threshold of 12.0 mg/dL resulted in a positive predictive value of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%-98%) and sensitivity of 52% (95% CI, 43%-61%) for ionized hypercalcemia. An optimal tCa concentration threshold was not identified for hyperphosphatemic dogs. The nonhyperphosphatemic dogs had a higher prevalence of ionized hypercalcemia than the hyperphosphatemic dogs (7 versus 3%, P = .04) and a lower prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia (23 versus 62%, respectively; P < .001).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: High tCa concentrations are strongly predictive of ionized hypercalcemia in nonhyperphosphatemic adult dogs and should prompt further diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of hypercalcemia. In this population, dogs without increased tCa concentrations rarely had ionized hypercalcemia, but iCa concentrations still should be evaluated in patients with tCa concentrations within the reference interval if there is clinical suspicion for calcium abnormalities.

KW - calcium

KW - canine

KW - hypercalcemia

KW - ionized calcium

KW - phosphorus

KW - Predictive Value of Tests

KW - Male

KW - Dog Diseases/blood

KW - Animals

KW - Hypercalcemia/blood

KW - Dogs

KW - Female

KW - Hyperphosphatemia/blood

KW - Calcium/blood

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DO - 10.1111/jvim.15654

M3 - Article

C2 - 31693268

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SN - 0891-6640

VL - 34

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JO - Journal of veterinary internal medicine

JF - Journal of veterinary internal medicine

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Determination of a serum total calcium concentration threshold for accurate prediction of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs with and without hyperphosphatemia

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