Lipoprotein profile of pleural and peritoneal transudates in dogs and cats

Comparative Evaluation of Lipid Profile, C-Reactive Protein and Paraoxonase-1 Activity in Dogs with Inflammatory Protein-Losing Enteropathy and Healthy Dogs

Chronic inflammation alters lipoprotein metabolism and causes changes in the serum concentrations of lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and paraoxonase-1 activity (PON-1), an enzyme that may act as a local detoxifier, antioxidant, and immunomodulator in the gastrointestinal tract. Scarce information is available in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy secondary to chronic enteropathy (iPLE). The first aim was to describe and compare the lipid profiles, CRP concentrations and PON-1 activities in healthy dogs and in dogs with iPLE. The second aim was to evaluate correlations among clinicopathological, histologic data and lipid profiles in dogs with iPLE. Serum samples from 51 iPLE and 40 healthy dogs were used to study albumin, total protein, CRP, PON-1 activity, cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein classes. Serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, cholesterol, PON-1 activity, and high-density and very-low-density lipoproteins were lower in iPLE dogs compared to healthy controls, while those of triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, chylomicrons and CRP were higher. Significant correlations between the lipid profile and the existing chronic enteropathy activity index were not found. High-density and low-density lipoproteins correlated with CRP and PON-1. Triglycerides were significantly higher in dogs with both inflammation and lymphangiectasia. The results need to be confirmed in further studies.

Utility of the Ratio between Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Activity and Total Nucleated Cell Counts in Effusions (LDH/TNCC Ratio) for the Diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Background: We tested the hypothesis that the ratio between lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and total nucleated cell counts (TNCC) in effusions may be useful to diagnose feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Methods: LDH/TNCC ratio was retrospectively evaluated in 648 effusions grouped based on cytology and physicochemical analysis (step 1), on the probability of FIP estimated by additional tests on fluids (step 2) or on other biological samples (step 3, n = 471). Results of different steps were statistically compared. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were designed to assess whether the ratio identify the samples with FIP “probable/almost confirmed”. The cut-offs with the highest positive likelihood ratio (LR+) or Youden Index (YI) or with equal sensitivity and specificity were determined. Results: A high median LDH/TNCC ratio was found in FIP effusions (step1: 2.01) and with probable or almost confirmed FIP (step 2: 1.99; 2.20 respectively; step 3: 1.26; 2.30 respectively). The optimal cut-offs were 7.54 (LR+ 6.58), 0.62 (IY 0.67, sensitivity: 89.1%; specificity 77.7%), 0.72 (sensitivity and specificity: 79.2%) in step 2 and 2.27 (LR+ 10.39), 0.62 (IY 0.65, sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 83.0%), 0.54 (sensitivity: 82.1%; specificity 81.9%) in step 3. Conclusions: a high LDH/TNCC ratio support a FIP diagnosis.