title: Evaluation of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin concentrations as prognostic indicators for horses with inflammatory disease examined at a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate use of serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin concentrations as prognostic indicators for horses with inflammatory disease in regard to euthanasia, complications, and hospitalization duration and cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 clinically normal horses and 53 horses with inflammatory disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total WBC count, neutrophil count, and fibrinogen, SAA, and haptoglobin concentrations were determined for clinically normal horses and horses with suspected inflammatory disease. Clinicopathologic values at admission were compared to test the use of SAA and haptoglobin concentrations in predicting euthanasia, complications, and hospitalization duration and cost. Haptoglobin and SAA concentrations of 22 horses were monitored during hospitalization to test the use of serial measurements in predicting survival and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neutrophil count and SAA and haptoglobin concentrations were significantly different at admission for horses with inflammatory disease, compared with those for clinically normal horses. Horses with colitis and peritonitis had significantly higher SAA and haptoglobin concentrations than clinically normal horses. A moderate positive correlation (r = 0.355) between hospitalization duration and haptoglobin concentration was identified. Horses with an increase in SAA concentration between 24 and 72 hours after admission, compared with admission SAA concentration, were significantly more likely (OR, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 45.9) to be euthanized or develop complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concentrations of SAA and haptoglobin at admission were not significantly correlated with outcome in horses with inflammatory conditions. Acute-phase proteins likely have more utility in serial analysis rather than testing at a single time point for horses with inflammatory conditions.
authors.forename: Trina L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tornquist
authors.forename: Crystal M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Poulsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006736:Horses; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009922:Oregon; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D063128:Tertiary Health Care
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006242:Haptoglobins; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein