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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(2); 673-677; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12568

Plasma C-reactive protein and haptoglobin concentrations in critically ill neonatal foals.

Abstract: Accurate diagnostic markers for sepsis in neonatal foals are needed. Plasma C-reactive protein concentration (p[CRP]) and haptoglobin concentration (p[Hp]) are well-established biomarkers of infection in humans, but studies are lacking in foals. Objective: p[CRP]) and p[Hp] are increased in septic foals compared to sick nonseptic and healthy control foals, and are predictive of survival. Methods: Eighty critically ill foals (40 septic, 40 sick nonseptic) and 39 healthy control foals <1 week of age. Methods: Multicenter, prospective observational clinical study. Venous blood was collected at admission from septic and sick nonseptic foals and from clinically healthy foals at 24 h of age. A diagnosis of sepsis was made based on positive blood culture or a sepsis score >11, and p[CRP] and p[Hp] were measured by using ELISA tests. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U-test and forward stepwise multivariable linear regression. P < .05 was considered significant. Results: Plasma [CRP] was positively associated with age, serum globulin, adrenomedullin, and bilirubin concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase activity, glutamyl-transferase activity, band neutrophil count, and rectal temperature, and was increased in foals with toxic neutrophils, enterocolitis, colic, rib fractures and septic arthritis. Surprisingly, p[Hp] was lower in septic foals than in sick nonseptic foals. Neither p[CRP] or p[Hp] was predictive of survival in critically ill foals. Conclusions: Plasma [CRP] increases with inflammation in neonatal foals but is not indicative of sepsis. Single time point, admission sampling of p[CRP] and p[Hp] do not appear to be useful biomarkers for sepsis in foals.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-31 PubMed ID: 25818221PubMed Central: PMC4895508DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12568Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study evaluated the potential of plasma C-reactive protein (p[CRP]) and haptoglobin concentration (p[Hp]) as markers of sepsis in critically ill neonatal foals. However, results indicated that neither p[CRP] nor p[Hp] could accurately predict sepsis or survival in these cases.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary goal of the research was to ascertain if p[CRP] and p[Hp] were notably higher in septic foals compared to nonseptic sick foals and healthy foals. The study also aimed to determine if these biomarkers could predict survival in critically ill foals.

Methodology

  • The research was a multicenter, prospective observational clinical study involving eighty critically ill foals with sepsis or other illnesses, and 39 healthy foals.
  • The team collected venous blood at admission from the sick foals and from the healthy foals at their 24-hour milestone.
  • Samples were then analyzed via ELISA tests to measure p[CRP] and p[Hp]. A diagnosis of sepsis was made based on positive blood culture or a sepsis score higher than 11.
  • Data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and forward stepwise multivariable linear regression with a significance level of P < .05.

Key Findings

  • Plasma [CRP] was discovered to be positively associated with age, serum globulin, adrenomedullin, bilirubin concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase activity, band neutrophil count, and rectal temperature. Increased levels were observed in foals with toxic neutrophils, enterocolitis, colic, rib fractures, and septic arthritis.
  • Unexpectedly, p[Hp] was lower in septic foals compared to nonseptic ill foals.
  • Neither p[CRP] or p[Hp] was predictive of survival in critically ill foals.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that while p[CRP] does increase with inflammation in neonatal foals, it isn’t a reliable indicator of sepsis. Furthermore, testing for p[CRP] and p[Hp] at a single point of admission doesn’t seem to provide a useful biomarker for sepsis in foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Zabrecky KA, Slovis NM, Constable PD, Taylor SD. (2015). Plasma C-reactive protein and haptoglobin concentrations in critically ill neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med, 29(2), 673-677. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12568

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 673-677

Researcher Affiliations

Zabrecky, K A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Slovis, N M
    Constable, P D
      Taylor, S D

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Animals, Newborn
        • Biomarkers / blood
        • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Critical Illness
        • Haptoglobins / metabolism
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / metabolism
        • Horses
        • Multivariate Analysis
        • Sepsis / blood
        • Sepsis / veterinary

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        Citations

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