Concentrations of acute-phase proteins in dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Measurement of concentrations of acute-phase proteins (APPs) is used as an aid in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases in animals.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the concentration of APPs in dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) and other neurologic diseases.

ANIMALS:

One hundred and thirty-three dogs with neurologic diseases, 6 dogs with sepsis, and 8 healthy dogs were included in the study. Thirty-six dogs had SRMA (31 of which had monitoring), 14 dogs had other meningoencephalitides (ME), 32 had disk disease (IVDD/DLSS), 26 had tumors affecting the central nervous system (TCNS), and 25 had idiopathic epilepsy (IE).

METHODS:

Prospective, observational study: C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha(2)-macroglobulin (AMG), and albumin concentrations were determined in the serum or plasma. CRP was also measured in the cerebrospinal fluid.

RESULTS:

Serum CRP was significantly higher in dogs with SRMA (x=142 microg/mL+/-75) and sepsis (x=114 microg/mL+/-67) in comparison with dogs with other neurologic diseases (x=2.3-21 microg/mL; P< .001). There was no significant difference detected in AMG between groups. Serum albumin concentration was significantly lower (P< .01) in dogs with SRMA (x=3.2 g/dL+/-0.41) than in other groups (x=3.6-3.9 g/dL). Serum CRP concentration of SRMA dogs correlated with alkaline phosphatase levels (r=0.515, P= .003).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE:

CRP concentrations in serum are useful in diagnosis of dogs with SRMA. Serum CRP could be used as a monitoring parameter in treatment management of these dogs.

• Authors: A Bathen-Noethen, R Carlson, D Menzel, R Mischke, A Tipold
• Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine (J Vet Intern Med) 2008 Sep-Oct Vol. 22 Issue 5 Pg. 1149-56 ISSN: 0891-6640 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18691368 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acute-Phase Proteins
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones

Topics

• Acute-Phase Proteins (analysis, metabolism)
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Arteritis (cerebrospinal fluid, drug therapy, metabolism, veterinary)
• Central Nervous System (immunology)
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (chemistry)
• Dog Diseases (blood, immunology)
• Dogs
• Female
• Male
• Meninges (blood supply)
• Meningitis (cerebrospinal fluid, drug therapy, metabolism, veterinary)