Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test markers track joint inflammation in dogs with immune
By Foster, J D et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Department of Medical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum biomarkers of clinical and cytologic response in dogs with idiopathic immune-mediated polyarthropathy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of nine dogs with immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA), which causes joint inflammation and pain, were treated with prednisone, a common steroid medication. Researchers measured levels of certain proteins in the dogs' blood to see how well the treatment was working. They found that levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were much higher in the dogs with IMPA compared to healthy dogs, but these levels dropped significantly after two and four weeks of treatment. This suggests that monitoring these proteins could help vets assess how well the treatment is working and the level of inflammation in affected dogs.
People also search for: dog joint pain treatment · prednisone for dog arthritis · immune-mediated polyarthritis in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated polyarthopathy (IMPA) is common in dogs, and is monitored by serial arthrocenteses. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and CXCL8 (interleukin-8) would serve as noninvasive markers of joint inflammation in IMPA. ANIMALS: Nine client-owned dogs with idiopathic IMPA; 6 healthy controls. METHODS: Prospective study. Plasma CRP, IL-6, and CXCL8 were measured by ELISA at baseline, 2, and 4 weeks during treatment with prednisone at 50 mg/m(2) /day. Arthrocenteses, the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI), and accelerometry collars were used to assess joint inflammation, lameness, and mobility at all 3 time points. RESULTS: C-reactive protein concentrations were higher in IMPA dogs (median 91.1 μg/mL, range 76.7-195.0) compared with controls (median <6.3 μg/mL, <6.3-13.7; P = .0035), and were significantly lower at week 2 (10.6 μg/mL, <6.3-48.8) and week 4 (<6.3 μg/mL, <6.3-24.4; P < .001). C-reactive protein was correlated with median CBPI scores (r = 0.68; P = .0004), joint cellularity (r = 0.49, P = .011), and mobility by accelerometry (r = -0.42, P = .048). Plasma IL-6 concentrations were also higher in IMPA dogs (median 45.9 pg/mL), compared with controls (median <15.7 pg/mL; P = .0008). IL-6 was lower in IMPA dogs by week 4 (<15.7 pg/mL; P = .0099), and was modestly correlated with CBPI scores (r = 0.47, P = .023). CXCL8 did not differ significantly between IMPA and healthy dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma CRP and IL-6 might be useful surrogate markers of synovial inflammation and disease activity in dogs with IMPA.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24698600/