Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Plasma cytokine levels in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts
By Kilpatrick, Scott et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2014·Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Plasma cytokine concentrations in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (cPSS), a condition where blood bypasses the liver, showed higher levels of a specific inflammatory marker called interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to healthy dogs. This increase in IL-6 may be linked to liver issues and related symptoms like confusion or disorientation, known as hepatic encephalopathy. The study measured various cytokines in the blood of 36 affected dogs and found that while IL-6 was elevated, other markers were similar to those in healthy dogs. Understanding these markers could help vets manage dogs with cPSS more effectively.
People also search for: dog liver disease symptoms · congenital portosystemic shunt treatment · elevated IL-6 in dogs
Abstract
Congenital portosystemic shunts (cPSS) are a well-recognised vascular anomaly in dogs. Recent studies have shown an association between inflammation and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is a common clinical syndrome in dogs with a cPSS. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α are frequently increased in the plasma of human patients with liver disease and have been implicated in the development of HE. In the current study, plasma concentrations of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were measured using a multiplex electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in 36 dogs with a cPSS and compared to 25 healthy dogs. There were no significant differences in plasma IL-2, IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations between the two groups; however, plasma concentrations of IL-6 were significantly higher in dogs with a cPSS compared to healthy dogs (P=0.02).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24518641/