Evaluation of serum C-reactive protein and high mobility group box 1 concentrations in 22 dogs with acute pancreatitis: a pilot study.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important mediator of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in humans with severe acute pancreatitis (AP), but there is little information regarding its role in dogs. To compare the serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and HMGB1 in healthy dogs and those with AP with or without SIRS. The study included 22 dogs with AP and 20 healthy dogs. CRP and HMGB1 were assessed by ELISA. Statistical analyses were conducted by non-parametric tests. Median (interquartile range) serum CRP and HMGB1 concentrations were significantly ( < 0.05) higher in dogs with AP [60.56 (14.50-140.10) µg/mL and 0.35 (0.03-1.12) ng/mL, respectively] than in healthy dogs [2.23 (1.75-5.14) µg/mL and 0.02 (0.01-0.05) ng/mL, respectively]. After the recommended treatments for AP, serum CRP concentration in AP dogs significantly decreased, but that of HMGB1 in AP dogs significantly increased. There was also a significant difference in median serum HMGB1 concentration between AP dogs with and without SIRS. The use of serum HMGB1 concentration of 0.35 ng/mL to distinguish AP dogs with and without SIRS was associated with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 71.5%. A positive correlation was identified between HMGB1 and clinical severity of AP. All AP dogs had a positive outcome during hospitalization [6.0 (1.5-6.0) days]. Results indicate that HMGB1 might be a useful biomarker for the progression of AP and may play a role in progression of AP into SIRS in dogs.