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


METHODS
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
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.
Bathen-Noethen
A
A
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. bathen@vetneuro.de
Carlson
R
R
Menzel
D
D
Mischke
R
R
Tipold
A
A
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001167:Arteritis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008578:Meninges / Q000098:blood supply; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones