title: Evaluation of the serum fructosamine test to monitor plasma glucose concentration in the transition dairy cow.
abstract: The usefulness of the serum fructosamine (Fser) to monitor the retrospective glucose concentrations in transitional dairy cows (n=17) was evaluated. In weekly blood samples (3 weeks before to 5 weeks after calving) concentrations of plasma glucose and serum fructosamine, beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta OHB) and total proteins were determined. The observed Fser concentrations (271+/-55 mean value, range 152-423 mumol/l) were within the range reported in the literature, and showed a progressive and significant decrease after calving. Mean plasma glucose concentration was 60.6+/-5.0 (range 39.9-82.2) mg/dl increasing from week 3 before calving to the week of calving and then decreasing during the next 5 weeks of lactation. This decrease was coincident with inverse relationships between plasma glucose and milk yield (P=0.03) and serum beta OHB (P<0.001). Linear regression analysis performed between serum fructosamine and (a) plasma glucose concentration of the same sampling and (b) plasma glucose concentration of 1, 2 and 3 weeks preceding the sampling, did not show significant and systematizing positive correlations. Persistent hypoproteinaemias that could affect the fructosamine concentrations were not found: mean value and range of serum proteins was 6.3+/-1.0 and 4.8-7.8 g/dl, respectively, and no correlation was found between serum proteins and Fser (P=0.26). Results did not support the possibility of retrospective monitoring of the plasma glucose concentration by serum fructosamine in dairy cows in the transition period.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología y Clínica de Rumiantes y Suinos, Alberto Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay.
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sorondo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cirio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood*; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019270:Fructosamine