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Evaluation of Serum L-phenylalanine Concentration as Indicator of Liver Disease in Dogs: A Pilot Study

From the Small Animal Clinic (Neumann, Welling), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Goettingen, Burckhardtweg 2D-37077, Goettingen, Germany and Vet Med Labor GmbHMörikestr. (Thuere), 28/3D-71636, Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Because essential amino acids are metabolized in the liver, liver diseases may impair their catabolism. In this study, serum L-phenylalanine concentrations in 28 dogs with liver diseases were compared with those of 28 healthy dogs and 13 dogs with nonhepatic diseases. Dogs with liver diseases had significantly increased L-phenylalanine serum concentrations compared to healthy dogs (P<0.001) and to those with nonhepatic diseases (P<0.01). There were no significant differences among the L-phenylalanine serum concentrations of dogs with different degrees of liver diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of L-phenylalanine to fasting bile acids were comparable.