Comparative measurement using the GlucoMen®LX PLUS and a reference method to quantify β-hydroxybutyrate in dogs and cats

Abstract

The detection of ketone bodies in urinary samples often underestimates the degree of ketonuria and may lead to false negative results due to the lack of detection of β-hydroxybutyrate. In human medicine, the standard method used to quantify and monitor ketonemia is the measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in whole blood samples which is associated with a higher sensitivity. For this, only few devices have to date been evaluated in veterinary medicine. These have shown limitations in areas of high β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. The aim of the study was to compare the portable ketone meter GlucoMen®LX PLUS with a reference method for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in canine and feline venous blood samples. In this prosepctive study, a total of 47 dogs and 55 cats were enrolled. These cases comprised patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetes mellitus and catabolic metabolism as well as healthy individuals. Comparison between the GlucoMen®LX PLUS ketone meter and an enzymatic reaction method by an automated chemistry analyzer was performed. Measurement results of dogs and cats were evaluated separately. There was a high correlation between measurement values of the GlucoMen®LX PLUS and the enzymatic reaction laboratory method in dogs (R = 0.99, p < 0.001) and cats (R = 0.98, p < 0.001). Mean difference was 0.01 mmol/l (SD ± 0.20) in dogs and 0.05 mmol/l (SD ± 0.29) in cats. In 44 % of all dogs and cats the GlucoMen®LX PLUS measured lower values in comparison to the reference method. Greater differences between the 2 measurement methods were apparent in both high and low β-hydroxybutyrate concentration ranges (dogs, R = -0.762 and cats, R = -0.86). In high concentration areas, the GlucoMen®LX PLUS led to slightly lower results, whereas in low concentration areas slightly higher values were measured. The GlucoMen®LX PLUS shows a strong correlation with the standard reference method and is useful for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate in canine and feline venous blood samples. Limitations can be seen in high concentration ranges of β-hydroxybutyrate in which the GlucoMen®LX PLUS resulted in slightly lower measurement values. The GlucoMen®LX PLUS is a cost-effective portable device representing a viable alternative to urinary ketone body measurement.