Evaluation of the positive predictive value of serum protein electrophoresis beta-gamma bridging for hepatic disease in three domestic animal species.
Abstract: Beta-gamma bridging (β-γ bridging) on serum protein electrophoresis is touted as being virtually pathognomonic for hepatic disease. However, the criteria for β-γ bridging are not defined, and few publications support a relationship between β-γ bridging and liver disease. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatic pathology in animals with β-γ bridging. All serum protein electrophoretograms from clinical patients generated at the University of Georgia between 1994 and 2008 were evaluated for the presence of β-γ bridging, defined as (1) an albumin:globulin ratio below the reference interval; (2) indistinct separation between all β and γ globulin fractions or between the β(2) and γ fractions, with a negative shoulder slope of < 5%; and (3) predominance of γ proteins versus β proteins. Of the 237 electrophoretograms examined, 25 (11 dogs, 11 cats, 3 horses) met the inclusion criteria for β-γ bridging. Patients were classified into disease categories on the basis of biochemical, cytologic, and/or histologic findings. Positive predictive values of β-γ bridging for hepatic and infectious diseases were determined with a one-sided exact binomial test. Of 25 animals, 8 had evidence for hepatic disease, whereas 9 had infectious diseases. As such, the positive predictive value of β-γ bridging for hepatic disease was 32.0%, with a 95% confidence interval of 15.0% to 53.5% (P < .001), whereas for infectious disease, the positive predictive value was 36.0%, with a similar confidence interval. Beta-gamma bridging is not pathognomonic for liver diseases and is as frequently found with infectious diseases.
Publication Date: 2010-07-27 PubMed ID: 20664015DOI: 10.1177/0300985810375946Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease
- Disease Diagnosis
- Domestic Animals
- Electrophoresis
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Hepatic Function
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Liver Function
- Protein
- Retrospective Study
- Serum
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
Summary
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This research article analyzes the accuracy of using beta-gamma bridging on serum protein electrophoresis as a diagnostic indicator for liver disease in domestic animals, namely dogs, cats, and horses. The study, based on data from the University of Georgia, revealed that beta-gamma bridging is not exclusive to liver diseases and often appears in cases of infectious diseases as well.
Study Background and Objectives
- The research focuses on beta-gamma bridging (β-γ bridging) in serum protein electrophoresis, a phenomenon often associated with liver disease in domestic animals.
- Their primary aim was to measure the prevalence of liver diseases in animals that showed β-γ bridging in serum protein electrophoretic patterns.
Methodology
- The scientists retrospectively analyzed serum protein electrophoretograms derived from clinical patients at the University of Georgia from 1994 to 2008.
- Out of 237 electrophoretograms studied, 25 met the criteria for β-γ bridging.
- The β-γ bridging was defined under three conditions – a below-average albumin:globulin ratio, indistinct separation between specific β and γ globulin fractions, and a predominance of γ proteins.
Findings and Conclusion
- Cases were categorized based on biochemical, cytologic, or histologic findings and the positive predictive values of β-γ bridging for liver and infectious diseases were determined.
- Out of the 25 animals that showed β-γ bridging, 8 had evidence of liver disease while 9 had infectious diseases.
- The positive predictive value of β-γ bridging for liver disease was found to be 32.0%, for infectious diseases it was 36.0%.
- The research concluded that β-γ bridging is not pathognomonic (specifically indicative) for liver diseases and can also be frequently found in cases of infectious diseases.
Essentially, this study challenges the traditional notion that β-γ bridging is nearly exclusively linked to hepatic pathologies. Instead, the researchers demonstrate that β-γ bridging might equally serve as an indicator of infectious diseases in domestic animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Camus MS, Krimer PM, Leroy BE, Almy FS.
(2010).
Evaluation of the positive predictive value of serum protein electrophoresis beta-gamma bridging for hepatic disease in three domestic animal species.
Vet Pathol, 47(6), 1064-1070.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985810375946 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA. mscamus@uga.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Beta-Globulins / analysis
- Blood Protein Electrophoresis / veterinary
- Cat Diseases / blood
- Cat Diseases / diagnosis
- Cats
- Dog Diseases / blood
- Dog Diseases / diagnosis
- Dogs
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Liver Diseases / blood
- Liver Diseases / diagnosis
- Liver Diseases / veterinary
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- gamma-Globulins / analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Yamagishi N, Soe KSS, Suyama H, Kawamura A, Tsuchiaka S, Itagaki K, Kim S, Ishikawa S. Evaluation of two human diagnostic agarose gel electrophoresis kits for bovine serum protein fractionation. J Vet Med Sci 2025 Dec 1;87(12):1408-1413.
- Donato G, Pennisi MG, Persichetti MF, Archer J, Masucci M. A Retrospective Comparative Evaluation of Selected Blood Cell Ratios, Acute Phase Proteins, and Leukocyte Changes Suggestive of Inflammation in Cats. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 10;13(16).
- Gori E, Pierini A, Tulone F, Abramo F, Marchetti V. Serum protein electrophoresis in 26 dogs with chronic hepatitis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Jul;34(4):738-741.
- Garg S, Singh VK, Sonkar SC, Kelkar H, Singh S, Garg S, Arya M, Husain F, Chandra L, Chitkara A, Talukdar T, Goswami B, Koner BC. Pattern of serum protein capillary electrophoretogram in SARS- CoV-2 infection. Clin Chim Acta 2022 Feb 15;527:11-16.
- Asawakarn S, Taweethavonsawat P. Characterization of serum protein electrophoresis patterns and C-reactive protein in canine tick-borne diseases. Vet World 2021 Aug;14(8):2150-2154.
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