Dexamethasone Suppression Test

LABOKLIN Service ID: 143

Diagnosis

Differentiation between adrenal and pituitary Cushing’s disease

Material

Serum 2 x 0.5 ml or 3 x 0.5 ml

Execution

  • First blood collection = baseline value
  • Injection of 0.1 mg (dog) or 1.0 mg (cat) of dexamethasone/kg bdw i.m. or i.v.
  • An additional sample 4 hours post injection gives information concerning a delayed decrease of cortisol.
  • Blood sample 8 hours post injection = suppression value

Parameter

Cortisol

Species list

Dog, cat

Assessment

  • Pituitary: one or both suppression values < 10 ng/ml
    (in rare cases suppression values > 10 ng/ml)
  • Adrenal: both suppression values > 10 ng/ml