Fecal alpha1-proteinase inhibitor concentration in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease.
BACKGROUND
Fecal alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor (alpha(1)-PI) clearance is a reliable, noninvasive marker for protein-losing enteropathy in human beings. An assay for use in dogs has been developed and validated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate fecal alpha(1)-PI concentration in dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease, compared with healthy dogs, and to assess its correlation with serum albumin concentration.


METHODS
Fecal samples were collected from 2 groups of dogs. Group 1 consisted of 21 clinically healthy client-owned dogs without signs of gastrointestinal disease. Group 2 consisted of 16 dogs referred for investigation of suspected gastrointestinal disease. On the basis of gastric and duodenal biopsies, group 2 was further subdivided into dogs with normal histology (n = 9) and those with histologic abnormalities (n = 7: inflammatory bowel disease, n = 3; lymphangiectasia, n = 4). An ELISA was used to measure alpha(1)-PI concentrations in fecal extracts.


RESULTS
Fecal alpha(1)-PI concentrations, expressed as micro g/g of feces, were not significantly different between groups 1 and 2 as a whole. However, fecal alpha(1)-PI concentrations (median, minimum-maximum) were significantly higher in dogs with gastrointestinal diseases associated with histologic abnormalities (60.6 micro g/g, 7.4-201.7 micro g/g) compared with dogs with normal histology (3.8 micro g/g, 0.7-74.0 micro g/g) and control dogs (9.9 micro g/g, 0.0-32.1 micro g/g). There was no significant correlation between fecal alpha(1)-PI and serum albumin concentrations in dogs with gastrointestinal disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased fecal alpha(1)-PI concentration may signal the need to obtain gastrointestinal biopsies for a final diagnosis. Fecal alpha(1)-PI concentration may be a useful test for early detection of protein-losing enteropathy before decreases in serum albumin concentration can be detected.
Murphy
K F
KF
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK. Kate.Murphy@bristol.ac.uk
German
A J
AJ
Ruaux
C G
CG
Steiner
J M
JM
Williams
D A
DA
Hall
E J
EJ
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin