Evaluation of the Lactate to Albumin Ratio in Septic Dogs
The objective of this study was to investigate the value of the lactate to albumin ratio (L:A) as a prognostic marker for mortality in septic dogs.
A single-center retrospective case-control study based on clinical record review was conducted at an academic teaching hospital. All records were extracted for diagnoses of bacterial sepsis, septic peritonitis, septic shock, or septicemia between February 2012 and October 2021.
The study included 143 dogs. The most commonly identified sepsis diagnoses in dogs were septic peritonitis (55%; 78/143), unclassified sepsis (20%), and sepsis secondary to wounds or dermatological conditions (10%; 15/143). Median lactate and albumin for all dogs at presentation were 2.80 mmol/L and 2.6 g/dL, respectively; the median L:A ratio was 1.22. No clinically or statistically significant differences in lactate (P = 0.631), albumin (P = 0.695), or L:A (P = 0.908) were found between survivors and nonsurvivors.
This observational case record review found no significant differences in lactate, albumin, or L:A between survivors and nonsurvivors of dogs diagnosed with sepsis. Larger multicenter studies may be needed to explore the viability of these as biomarkers in sepsis. Prospective studies could be useful to assess the clinical value of L:A as a predictor for mortality in septic intensive care unit patients over time.
“Lactate to Albumin Ratio Is Not Predictive of Outcome in Septic Dogs: A Retrospective Case-Control Study”. Jules Hunka, et al. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2024 May 1;60(3):93-99.
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