title: Serum protein concentrations in horses with severe liver disease: a retrospective study and review of the literature.
abstract: The present retrospective study was undertaken to determine the frequency of hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia in horses with natural occurring severe liver disease. The study represents a review of case records and laboratory data of 84 horses presented with acute or chronic liver disease to the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1973 and 1991. Forty horses (48%) had serum protein concentrations above the maximum reference value (7.7 g/dL). The increase in serum protein concentration was associated with hyperglobulinemia (P = .00005, R2 = .80). Only 13% (11/84) of the horses had serum albumin concentrations below the minimum reference range (2.5 g/dL), and hypoproteinemia was found in only 1 of these horses. Of these, 18% (9/51) of the horses with chronic liver disease and 6% (2/33) of the horses with acute liver disease had albumin concentrations below the minimum reference value. Globulin concentrations in 64% of the horses (54/84) were above the maximum reference value (4.0 g/dL). The present study indicates that hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia are not common features in horses with severe liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Parraga
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thurmond
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality; D006736:Horses; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin