Equine veterinary journal2002; 34(7); 699-704; doi: 10.2746/042516402776250405

Dynamics in serum of the inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen and alpha2-globulins during induced noninfectious arthritis in the horse.

Hultén, C
·
Grönlund, U
·
Hirvonen, J
·
Tulamo, RM
·
Suominen, MM
·
Marhaug, G
·
Forsberg, M

Abstract: Despite the importance of noninfectious joint diseases in equine medicine, little is known about the acute phase response which may be elicited if the local inflammatory process of noninfectious arthritis is sufficiently strong, Therefore the aim of this study was to monitor the systemic inflammatory response during experimentally-induced noninfectious arthritis by studying the dynamics in serum of the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen and alpha2-globulins. Twenty-four Standardbred horses, age 3-7 years, found healthy on thorough clinical, radiological, haematological and serum biochemical examination, were injected aseptically into the right midcarpal joint with amphotericin B. Blood samples were drawn before induction of arthritis (0 h), and at 8, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h postinduction and then on Days 3, 4, 5 and 15 postinduction. All horses developed lameness with joint effusion and joint heat as well as increased respiratory rate, heart rate and body temperature. The lameness started to decline after 24-36 h and, in most animals, systemic signs disappeared on Day 2 postinjection. The concentration of the acute phase proteins increased following induction of arthritis. The SAA concentrations were higher than baseline concentrations from 16 h postinduction and were maximal at 36-48 h (227 times baseline concentration). The haptoglobin concentrations were higher than baseline concentrations from 24 h and were maximal at 48-96 h (1.14 times baseline concentration). The maximal concentrations of fibrinogen were seen between 36-72 h postinjection and increased on average 0.87 times from baseline concentrations. The fibrinogen concentrations were higher than baseline concentrations from 24 h postinjection. Alpha2-globulins concentrations showed a minor increase and increased 0.55 times from baseline concentrations. The markers had returned to baseline concentrations by Day 15. Our results demonstrate that amphotericin B-induced arthritis in a single joint gives rise to a systemic acute phase response measurable as increased concentrations in serum SAA, haptoglobin, fibrinogen and alpha2-globulins during the first 2 weeks of the condition and, thereby, that such an increase need not be indicative of infectious arthritis. Further research should be aimed at determining whether chronic noninfectious arthritis in the horse gives rise to increased acute phase protein concentrations in serum.

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Publication Date: 2002-11-29 PubMed ID: 12455841DOI: 10.2746/042516402776250405Google Scholar: Lookup

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The study examines the systemic inflammation response in horses when noninfectious arthritis is artificially induced by closely monitoring the changes in four specific proteins in the serum. The findings suggest that amphotericin B-induced arthritis triggers an acute phase response, highlighted by increased levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and alpha2-globulins.

Research Aim and Methodology

The study aims to fill a knowledge gap concerning the acute phase response in horses with noninfectious arthritis. To this end, the researchers monitored the change in the levels of acute phase proteins SAA, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and alpha2-globulins in the serum of horses.
24 healthy Standardbred horses, aged between 3 and 7, were included in the research. Acute noninfectious arthritis was purposely induced in these horses by injecting amphotericin B into the right midcarpal joint.
Blood samples were collected at regular intervals before and after the arthritis induction for up to 15 days, in order to track the changes in protein levels.

Findings

Signs of arthritis such as lameness, joint effusion, heat in the joint, fast breathing, increased heart rate, and heightened body temperature were observed in all horses. These symptoms started to decline after 24-36 hours and had nearly disappeared on the second day.
Notable increases were found in the concentrations of all four proteins in the serum following the induction of arthritis. SAA concentrations had a particularly high increase, being 227 times the baseline concentrations at peak levels. Haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and alpha2-globulins also showed increases but to a relatively lesser degree.
The highest level for each protein concentration was reached at different times post-injection: SAA at 36-48 hours, haptoglobin at 48-96 hours, and fibrinogen at 36-72 hours. Alpha2-globulins showed a minor increase in general.
The elevated markers returned to their baseline concentrations by day 15 of the experiment.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The study establishes that amphotericin B-induced arthritis in a single joint can trigger a systemic acute phase response, measurable in terms of increased serum concentrations of SAA, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, and alpha2-globulins. Additionally, this implies that concentration increases may not necessarily indicate infectious arthritis.
The results suggest a potential need for further research to discover if chronic noninfectious arthritis in horses also leads to increased acute phase protein concentrations in the serum.

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APA

Hultén C, Grönlund U, Hirvonen J, Tulamo RM, Suominen MM, Marhaug G, Forsberg M. (2002). Dynamics in serum of the inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen and alpha2-globulins during induced noninfectious arthritis in the horse. Equine Vet J, 34(7), 699-704. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776250405