Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
C-reactive protein levels and survival in dogs with leptospirosis
By Buser, F C et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2019·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Evaluation of C-reactive protein and its kinetics as a prognostic indicator in canine leptospirosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with acute kidney injury caused by leptospirosis were monitored for levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, during their hospital stay. All dogs showed increased C-reactive protein levels when they were first examined, but those who survived had lower levels by day four. While the initial C-reactive protein level was only weakly linked to survival, tracking its changes over the first two days provided better insight into the dogs' recovery chances. This suggests that regular monitoring of C-reactive protein could help veterinarians predict outcomes more accurately in dogs suffering from leptospirosis.
People also search for: dog kidney injury leptospirosis treatment · C-reactive protein in dogs · dog leptospirosis recovery signs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate C-reactive protein at presentation and during hospitalisation in dogs with acute kidney injury resulting from leptospirosis to compare C-reactive protein at presentation in dogs with acute kidney injury of different aetiology and to study its correlation with markers of inflammation, azotaemia and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of 41 dogs with acute kidney injury secondary to leptospirosis and 15 control dogs with acute kidney injury of different aetiology. C-reactive protein was measured at presentation in both groups and daily for 7 days in a subgroup of 28 dogs with leptospirosis. The associations of C-reactive protein with neutrophil count, albumin, urea, creatinine and survival were analysed. RESULTS: C-reactive protein was increased at presentation in all dogs with leptospirosis but was not significantly different from dogs with acute kidney injury of different cause. It was associated with markers of inflammation (neutrophil count, albumin) but not with azotaemia (creatinine, urea). It decreased gradually from presentation to day 4, with significantly lower concentrations in survivors than non-survivors. Initial C-reactive protein was only weakly associated with outcome, but its average concentration from presentation to day 2 was more strongly associated. Absolute and relative changes in C-reactive protein during hospitalisation and creatinine at presentation were not associated with survival. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Serial assessment of C-reactive protein may improve outcome prediction in dogs with leptospirosis compared with a single measurement at presentation or with markers of renal function.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31006872/