title: Use of C-reactive protein to predict outcome in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high mortality rate in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis. Therefore, an early diagnosis and prognostic assessment is important for optimal therapeutic intervention. The objective of the study was to evaluate if baseline values and changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) might predict survival in dogs with SIRS and sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study; July 2004 to July 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small Animal Clinic, Berlin, Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Munich.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the CRP analysis blood was drawn on day 0, 1, and 2; CRP was measured using a commercial ELISA test kit. Thirteen dogs suffered from nonseptic SIRS and 48 dogs from sepsis. The 14-day survival rate was 61% (69% nonseptic SIRS, 58% sepsis). Serum CRP was higher in sick dogs compared with controls (P<0.001). Over the 3-day period surviving dogs (n=31) displayed a significantly greater decrease in CRP than nonsurvivors (n=10) (P=0.001). No correlation was found between the initial CRP concentrations and the survival rate. The changes in CRP corresponded to the survival rate (P=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant relationship between the survival rate in dogs with nonseptic SIRS or sepsis and the initial serum CRP concentrations. There was a correlation between decreasing CRP concentrations and recovery from disease. However, the changes in CRP concentrations over a 3-day period correctly predicted survival in 94% of dogs and death in 30% of the dogs (false positive rate 22%).
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirschberger
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krainer
authors.forename: Florian J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schweigert
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunnberg
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaspers
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016638:Critical Illness; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein