title: Serum acute phase protein concentrations in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism with and without concurrent inflammatory conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute phase proteins (APPs) are promising markers of inflammation in dogs, because they are more sensitive than WBC counts in detecting clinical and subclinical inflammation. Endogenous corticosteroids can mask an acute phase response and make it more difficult to identify underlying inflammatory disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute phase protein response in dogs with spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) with and without concurrent inflammatory conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), fibrinogen, and albumin were measured in 44 healthy adult dogs and 39 dogs with HAC; the HAC group was further divided into dogs with and without concurrent infection/inflammation. A fourth group of dogs with severe sepsis and without HAC was compared with the dogs with HAC and severe sepsis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs with uncomplicated HAC had significantly higher Hp and fibrinogen concentrations compared with healthy control dogs (P<.001). Dogs with HAC and severe inflammatory disease also had significantly higher CRP and lower albumin concentrations than control dogs and dogs with HAC without concurrent inflammation. Dogs with sepsis but without HAC had significantly higher CRP concentrations than dogs with HAC and sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs with HAC had increases in the moderate APPs (Hp and fibrinogen), and no significant changes in CRP and albumin compared with healthy dogs. Although concurrent HAC appeared to blunt the CRP response in dogs with sepsis, increased serum CRP concentration in dogs with HAC is likely indicative of severe concurrent inflammation.
authors.affiliation: San Marco Veterinary Hospital, Padovas, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldin
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furlanello
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinez-Subiela
authors.forename: Jose J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerón
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins