Role of ketone bodies as an aid to diagnosis:

The ketone bodies present in animal are acetone, acetoacetate and beta hydroxyl butyrate.  They are synthesized by the liver and their rate of secrection by the liver is such that they can be easily metabolized by extrahepatc tissues.

But when the rate of synthesis exceeds the ability of animal to utilize them there will be accumulation of ketone bodies occurs in the blood.

This can lead to three conditions:

1. Ketonemia ( accumulation of ketone bodies in blood)
2. Ketonuria ( excretion of ketone bodies in urine)
3. Acetone breath

When all the three occurs at a time it is called as ketosis.

Causes for ketosis:

1. Diabetes mellitus: during diabetes there is increased rate of lipolyis and this leads in increase in acetyl CoA. This acetyl CoA is then channeled to produce the ketone bodies.
2. Prolonged fasting: during prolonged fasting also lipolysis occurs and can lead to ketosis.

Effect of ketosis:

1. Metabolic acidosis
2. Smell of acetone in breath
3. Dehydration
4. Coma
5. Loss of cations