title: Serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration in clinically healthy puppies and adult dogs and in dogs with various diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an acute-phase protein and a serum marker of inflammation and neoplasia in humans. AGP concentrations in diseased dogs and the potential effects of age, breed, and sex have not been elucidated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine differences in AGP concentration based on age, sex, and breed in a large population of clinically healthy dogs and to compare AGP concentrations in dogs with various diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum was obtained from clinically healthy puppies (n=74) and adults (n=172) of both sexes, and included mongrels (n=205) and Beagles (n=41). Serum also was obtained from 192 dogs with various diseases, including 8 with pyometra that were sampled before, and 1, 2, 3, and 10 days after surgery. AGP concentration was measured by single radial immunodiffusion. Statistical comparisons were made among age, sex, breed, and disease groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum AGP in healthy adult mongrels was 364+/-106 mg/L (reference interval, 152-576 mg/L). AGP was lowest in newborns (n=11, 122+/-54 mg/L) and gradually increased to adult levels by 3 months of age. Median AGP concentration was highest in dogs with parvovirus (n=17, 2100 mg/L), distemper (n=7, 1250 mg/L), and pyometra (n=18, 2480 mg/L) and was also significantly higher in dogs with acute filariasis, renal failure, urolithiasis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, trauma, hyperadrenocorticism, and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Dogs with acute filariasis and acute hepatopathy had significantly higher AGP concentrations than dogs with chronic filariasis and chronic hepatopathy. Serum AGP concentration decreased gradually following surgery for pyometra but remained increased after 10 days (896+/-175 mg/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of significantly lower AGP in puppies, the age of dogs should be considered when using AGP as a marker of disease. Serum AGP may be a useful marker of inflammatory disease in dogs and may help differentiate acute and chronic stages of disease.
authors.affiliation: Yuki Animal Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takase
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D055112:Pyometra / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D009961:Orosomucoid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein