No abstract

Aguilar-Bobadilla J., J. Bouda, L. Núñez-Ochoa, C. Vásquez-Peláez: Buffy Coat and Serum Concentration of Potassium Related to the Acid-base Status in Dogs Following Induced Hypokalemia. Acta Vet Brno, 2005, 74: 225-232. Electrolyte and acid-base disturbances are frequent in sick dogs. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of K + in blood serum and buffy coat K + (BC K + ) and its relation to other serum electrolytes and acid-base values in blood of healthy dogs and those with hypokalemia induced by furosemide. The study was performed on 42 dogs of both sexes, aged 3 to 8 years, divided into two groups. Group 1 (control, n = 21) included healthy dogs, Group 2 (experimental, n = 21) consisted of healthy dogs in which hypokalemia had been induced using furosemide at a dose of 12 mg/kg PO BID during 21 days. Physical examination, haemogram (16 analytes), biochemical profile (22 analytes) and urinalysis (15 analytes) were performed to evaluate the health status of all dogs. In this study, the most important serum analytes were Na + , K + and Cl -; BC K + and blood pH, HCO 3 -, base excess (BE), as well as pCO 2 . A method for obtaining BC and determining intracellular K + was developed. Between groups 1 and 2, serum K + had a significant correlation with pH, HCO 3 -and BE (r > 0.6, p < 0.01); in addition, in Group 2 there was a significant correlation with Na + and Cl -(r > 0.7, p < 0.01), due to the furosemide effect. The BC K + presented low correlation with serum K + , as well as with other variables, and thus could not be considered a good indicator of intracellular K + . The correlation coefficients in groups 1 and 2 were significant between strong ion difference (SID), K + , Cl -, HCO 3 -and BE (r > 0.7, p < 0.01), suggesting SID as a good indicator of K + translocation in metabolic alkalosis. The anion gap (AG) did not present significant correlation with BC K+, with serum Na + , K + and Cl -, or with pH, HCO 3 -, BE and pCO 2 . For the evaluation of electrolyte alterations and metabolic acid-base disorders it is necessary to include in laboratory profiles the determination of K + , Na + , Cl -, HCO 3 -in blood serum, as well as to calculate AG, SID, and relate them to the physical examination of the animal. Dog, furosemide, buffy coat potassium, serum electrolyte, acid-base status