Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fibronectin levels in fluid buildup in dogs and cats
By Hirschberger, J & Pusch, S·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1996·Ist Medical Veterinary Clinic, Germany·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Fibronectin concentrations in pleural and abdominal effusions in dogs and cats.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Researchers tested a special kit designed for humans to measure a protein called fibronectin in the fluid that builds up in the chest and abdomen of dogs and cats. They found that in cats, a fibronectin level above 31.5% could help tell apart cancer-related fluid from fluid caused by heart issues, with the test being very accurate for cancer but less so for heart problems. In dogs, the fibronectin levels in cancer-related chest fluid were noticeably different from those caused by heart failure. However, they didn't find any helpful differences in the fibronectin levels in abdominal fluid for either species. Overall, the study suggests that while fibronectin testing can be useful for diagnosing certain conditions, its effectiveness varies depending on the situation.
Abstract
A commercial nephelometric test kit for human fibronectin (FN) was found suitable for the estimation of fibronectin concentration in body effusions of cats and dogs. The FN measurements were set in relation to the FN concentration of plasma pools in cats and dogs. A discrimination line of 31.5% completely separated malignant from cardiogenic pleural effusions in cats. For the diagnosis of a malignant pleural effusion, sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 57%. Pleuritis also resulted in high FN concentrations. The FN concentration in malignant pleural effusions in dogs differed significantly (P < .02) from that in cardiogenic effusions. There were no clinically useful differences in the FN concentration in peritoneal effusions in cats and dogs. The FN/albumin ratio was significantly higher (P < .02) in dogs with neoplastic abdominal effusion than in those with congestive heart failure.
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/8884719/