Evaluation of combined assessments of serum anti-Müllerian hormone and progesterone concentrations for the diagnosis of ovarian remnant syndrome in dogs.

Objective: To determine the usefulness of combined assessments of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and progesterone (P4) concentrations for diagnosis of ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) in dogs.

Design: Prospective case series.

Animals: 602 bitches that had previously undergone ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy without hysterectomy and that were being evaluated for ORS.

Procedures: Serum AMH and P4 concentrations were measured in a single serum sample obtained from each of the 602 dogs; results were classified as positive, negative, or inconclusive. Following AMH testing, submitting veterinarians were offered reimbursement for shipping and histologic evaluation of any tissue removed during treatment of dogs for which serum samples had been assessed.

Results: Tissue samples were provided from 53 of 55 dogs that underwent surgical abdominal exploration. Of 48 dogs with histologically confirmed ORS, 25 were positive for both AMH and P4 and 23 were positive for AMH or P4 or test results were inconclusive. No dogs with histologically confirmed ORS were negative for both AMH and P4. Tissue samples that included no ovarian tissue were obtained from 5 dogs that were positive for both AMH and P4. In 2 dogs that were negative for both AMH and P4, no ovarian remnant was identified and no tissue was removed at the time of exploratory surgery.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: Results indicated that combined determination of AMH and P4 concentrations in a single serum sample can be an effective diagnostic test for spayed dogs suspected to have ORS. Histologic analysis of excised tissues to assess the completeness of surgical treatment in dogs with ORS is warranted.