Use of C-reactive protein to predict outcome in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.
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%).
Gebhardt
Constance
C
Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Hirschberger
Johannes
J
Rau
Stefanie
S
Arndt
Gisela
G
Krainer
Karen
K
Schweigert
Florian J
FJ
Brunnberg
Leo
L
Kaspers
Bernd
B
Kohn
Barbara
B
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*
D002097:C-Reactive Protein