Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High blood EGF levels in dogs with gum disease and mouth tumors
By Sobczyńska-Rak, Aleksandra et al.·Published in In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2018·Department and Clinic of Animal Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Elevated EGF Levels in the Blood Serum of Dogs with Periodontal Diseases and Oral Tumours.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs aged 5 to 13 years with severe gum disease and oral tumors had their blood tested for a protein called EGF. The results showed that dogs with severe periodontal disease had higher EGF levels compared to healthy dogs, and those with malignant (cancerous) tumors had even higher levels than those with non-cancerous growths. This suggests that elevated EGF in the blood could indicate more serious oral health issues. If your dog has gum disease or oral tumors, discussing EGF testing with your vet might be beneficial.
People also search for: dog gum disease symptoms · dog oral tumor treatment · elevated EGF in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Paradontopathy and neoplasms of the oral cavity represent one of the greatest challenges in human and animal dentistry. EGF plays a key role in maintaining the integrity and proper rate of cell proliferation in normal oral epithelium. The aim of the present study was to study serum levels of EGF in dogs diagnosed with periodontal diseases and oral cavity tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples comprised of cancerous tissue sections and serum obtained from dogs of various breeds, aged between 5-13 years. Serum EGF concentrations were measured by an immunoenzymatic method. RESULTS: The median for EGF concentration in serum of dogs suffered from severe periodontal diseases was greater when compared to the control group. EGF concentration in dogs with malignant tumours was significantly higher than in those with non-malignant growths. A positive correlation between EGF concentration and tumour size was also observed. EGF level in dogs diagnosed with benign tumours was comparable to the control group. CONCLUSION: The blood serum level of EGF increases significantly in patients with malignant oral tumours and advanced periodontal disease. In malignant tumours, the high level of EGF correlates with the size and invasiveness of the neoplasm.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29695553/