Open AccessConcentrations of Acute‐Phase Proteins in Dogs with Steroid Responsive Meningitis‐Arteritis
Author(s) -
BathenNoethen A.,
Carlson R.,
Menzel D.,
Mischke R.,
Tipold A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0164.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sepsis , albumin , acute phase protein , meningitis , cerebrospinal fluid , gastroenterology , arteritis , c reactive protein , serum albumin , surgery , inflammation
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), α 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 (= 142 μg/mL ± 75) and sepsis (= 114 μg/mL ± 67) in comparison with dogs with other neurologic diseases (= 2.3–21 μg/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 (= 3.2 g/dL ± 0.41) than in other groups (= 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.