| Abstract | Can prognosis be assessed by a novel biomarker at the time of patient admission for horse
colics?
Equine colic is an emergency frequently met by veterinarians. Causing pathological
processes might be challenging to identify and their late determination be fatal. Biomarkers of
intestinal lesions could be a valuable tool to assist veterinarians in decision-making, and
Acute Phase Proteins (APPs) in particular. This retrospective study aimed to quantify
haptoglobin, High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and calprotectin in blood of horses
hospitalised for colic pain, to assist identifying etiologies and determining cases prognosis.
We hypothesised an increase in HMGB1 and calprotectin concentrations, and a decrease in
haptoglobin concentration in more severe colics.
Serum and EDTA plasma were collected from 46 colicky horses at admission. History
and clinical exam data were recorded. ELISA kits were used to quantify HMGB1 and
calprotectin, and haptoglobin was measured using a spectrophotometric method. Horses were
grouped by outcome (dead/survived) and colic type (strangulated/non-strangulated).
Statistical analyses were based on demographic and anamnestic data, and clinical and
laboratory findings. Associations with groups were tested with two-sample tests. Correlations
of variables were analysed using Spearman’s test with Bonferroni correction. Bland-Altman
analysis was used to compare differences between serum and plasma values.
There were no significant differences between groups regarding concentrations of
haptoglobin (serum 0.7±0.4g/L; plasma 0.8±0.4g/L), calprotectin (serum 33.9±28.3ng/mL;
plasma 35.3±26.7ng/mL) and HMGB1 (serum 51±32.6ng/mL; plasma 53.1±26.6ng/mL).
Overall, serum concentrations tend to be significantly lower than plasma concentrations;
except for calprotectin for which relative bias was not conclusive. Calprotectin and HMGB1
were positively correlated (p<0.01).
The tested APPs were not reliable as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers. However,
calprotectin and HMGB1 might be increased in colic compared to literature reference ranges.
Limitations of the study, besides the small sample size and cases heterogeneity, are mostly
related to the lack of knowledge on equine APPs. They might depend on breeds, training and
other unknown factors. |
| Abstract (croatian) | Kolike konja su hitni slučajevi s kojim se veterinari često susreću. Uzroke patološke
procese može biti teško identificirati, a njihovo kasno utvrđiavenj može biti fatalno.
Biomarkeri intestinalnih lezija mogli bi biti vrijedan alat za pomoć veterinarima u donošenju
odluka, a posebice proteini akutne faze (APP). Ova retrospektivna studija imala je za cilj
kvantificirati haptoglobin, High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) i kalprotektin u krvi konja
hospitaliziranih zbog kolika, kako bi se pomoglo u identifikaciji etiologije i određivanju
prognoze slučajeva. Hipoteza istraživanja bila je da će kolike uzrokovati povećanje
koncentracije HMGB1 i kalprotektina, te smanjenje koncentracije haptoglobina kod težih
kolika.
Serum i EDTA plazma prikupljeni su od 46 konja s kolikama pri prijemu. Zabilježeni su
povijest bolesti i podaci kliničkog pregleda. ELISA setovi korišteni su za kvantificiranje
HMGB1 i kalprotektina, a haptoglobin je mjeren spektrofotometrijskom metodom. Konji su
grupirani prema konačnom ishodu (mrtvi/preživjeli) i vrsti kolika
(strangulacijska/nestrangulacijska). Statističke analize temeljene su na demografskim i
anamnestičkim podacima te kliničkim i laboratorijskim nalazima. Povezanosti sa skupinama
testirane su testovima s dva uzorka. Korelacije varijabli analizirane su Spearmanovim testom
s Bonferronijevom korekcijom. Bland-Altmanova analiza korištena je za usporedbu razlika
između vrijednosti u serumu i plazmi.
Nije bilo značajnih razlika između skupina u pogledu koncentracija haptoglobina
(serum 0,7±0,4g/L; plazma 0,8±0,4g/L), kalprotektina (serum 33,9±28,3ng/mL; plazma
35,3±26,7ng/mL) i HMGB1 (serum 51±32,6 ng/mL; plazma 53,1±26,6 ng/mL).
Koncentracije u serumu imaju tendenciju biti značajno niže od koncentracija u plazmi; osim
za kalprotektin za koji relativna pristranost nije bila uvjerljiva. Kalprotektin i HMGB1 bili su
u pozitivnoj korelaciji (p<0,01).
Testirani APP nisu bili pouzdani kao prognostički ili dijagnostički biomarkeri.
Međutim, kalprotektin i HMGB1 mogu biti povećani kod kolika u usporedbi s literaturnim
referentnim rasponima. Ograničenja studije, osim male veličine uzorka i heterogenosti
slučajeva, uglavnom su povezana s nedostatkom znanja o APP kod konja. Oni mogu ovisiti o
pasminama, vrsti trening i drugim nepoznatim čimbenicima. |
