Abstract
The Manual of Veterinary Clinical Chemistry: A Case Study Approach is designed to aid in the development of a systematic, holistic approach when evaluating clinical laboratory data. The book is not meant as an exhaustive clinical pathology resource but rather as an adjunct for veterinary students, residents, and clinicians who desire a case-based approach to solidify concepts detailed in more mechanistic texts.
The text (424 pages) is divided into 7 chapters and includes 125 cases (70 canine, 26 feline, 19 equine, 4 camelid, 2 caprine, 2 bovine, and 2 mustelid). The first chapter provides the foundational approach. The remaining 6 chapters build on this foundation and focus on specific aspects of the clinical chemistry panel. This includes liver enzyme elevations; the gastrointestinal system and carbohydrate metabolism; serum proteins; renal function; abnormalities of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium; and electrolyte and acid/base disturbances. Each chapter begins with specific tips for interpretation. These are not in-depth discussions of mechanisms or an exhaustive list of differentials. However, these sections do drive home foundational concepts and allow the reader to “dust off the cobwebs” before jumping into the cases. The cases themselves are broken down into 3 levels, beginning with relatively straightforward examples and ending with cases with a high degree of complexity. While each chapter is focused on specific aspects of the chemistry panel, each case includes other data (eg, signalment, history, hematology, coagulation, radiographs, gross photos, cytology, and/or additional diagnostics for endocrinopathies) that provide a context for the authors’ clinical chemistry interpretation. In addition, the authors’ detailed evaluations for each case provide built-in feedback for readers who wish to challenge themselves by independently generating their own interpretation. Each chapter ends with an overview that describes items to consider and points back to specific cases in the chapter that illustrate these points.
This text delivers a “real-world” framework for synthesizing patient history, clinical signs, and laboratory data into a coherent interpretation. The text is largely focused on the canine, feline, and, to a lesser degree, equine (115 of the 125 cases), which may make the text less appealing to those focused on ruminant or exotic species. However, I found the authors’ approach enjoyable and engaging and would recommend the purchase of this book to any individual, regardless of specialty, looking for a practical guide to clinical chemistry interpretation.