Concentrations of Acute-Phase Proteins in Dogs with Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis.

Background: Measurement of concentrations of acute-phase proteins (APPs) is used as an aid in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases in animals. Objective: To determine the concentration of APPs in dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) and other neurologic diseases. Animals: One hundred and thirty-three dogs with neurologic diseases, 6 dogs with sepsis, and 8 healthy dogs were included in the study. Thirty-six dogs had SRMA (31 of which had monitoring), 14 dogs had other meningoencephalitides (ME), 32 had disk disease (IVDD/DLSS), 26 had tumors affecting the central nervous system (TCNS), and 25 had idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Methods: Prospective, observational study: C-reactive protein (CRP), α₂-macroglobulin (AMG), and albumin concentrations were determined in the serum or plasma. CRP was also measured in the cerebrospinal fluid. Results: Serum CRP was significantly higher in dogs with SRMA ( = 142 μg/mL ± 75) and sepsis ( = 114 μg/mL ± 67) in comparison with dogs with other neurologic diseases ( = 2.3–21 μg/mL; P < .001). There was no significant difference detected in AMG between groups. Serum albumin concentration was significantly lower ( P < .01) in dogs with SRMA ( = 3.2 g/dL ± 0.41) than in other groups ( = 3.6–3.9 g/dL). Serum CRP concentration of SRMA dogs correlated with alkaline phosphatase levels ( r= 0.515, P= .003). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: CRP concentrations in serum are useful in diagnosis of dogs with SRMA. Serum CRP could be used as a monitoring parameter in treatment management of these dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]