Rompf Johanna, Lutz Bérénice, Adamik Katja-Nicole, Marti Eliane, Mirkovitch Jelena, Peters Laureen Michèle, Eiermann Jennifer, Schüpbach-Regula Gertraud, Hettlich Bianca, Willi Barbara, Schuller Simone
Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Group, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jun 18;12:1609020. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1609020. eCollection 2025.
Procalcitonin is a well-established biomarker of bacterial infections in human medicine, used to guide initiation and duration of antimicrobial treatment. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a frequently used marker of inflammation in dogs, but is not specific for bacterial infection. The main objective of this study was to determine kinetics of plasma PCT (pPCT) and CRP in dogs with sepsis, non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (nSIRS) and healthy dogs. This prospective, observational study included 17 dogs with sepsis, 16 with nSIRS and 15 healthy dogs. Hematologic parameters, pPCT and CRP were assessed on days 1, 2 and 3 in healthy dogs and on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 in dogs with nSIRS or sepsis. The shortened Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLE) score was calculated for dogs with sepsis and nSIRS. Plasma PCT was measured using a validated canine PCT ELISA. There was no significant difference in median pPCT between healthy dogs (110.3 pg/mL; IQR 74.7-138) and dogs with sepsis (81.6 pg/mL; IQR 50.1-157.1) or nSIRS (105.3 pg/mL; IQR 87.6-164.7). Prior antimicrobial treatment was not associated with a decrease in pPCT concentration in septic dogs. In the sepsis group, day 1 pPCT concentrations were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors ( < 0.05). In contrast, median CRP was above the reference range (<10.5 mg/L) in dogs with nSIRS (100.7 mg/L; IQR 67-141.9) or sepsis (131.9 mg/L; IQR 75.7-194.8) and significantly decreased within the first 4 days of successful antimicrobial treatment of sepsis. In conclusion, while plasma PCT showed some prognostic value, it was not a useful biomarker for assessing the efficacy of the chosen antimicrobial treatment in dogs with sepsis.
降钙素原是人类医学中公认的细菌感染生物标志物，用于指导抗菌治疗的开始和持续时间。C反应蛋白（CRP）是犬类常用的炎症标志物，但并非细菌感染所特有。本研究的主要目的是确定脓毒症犬、非感染性全身炎症反应综合征（nSIRS）犬和健康犬血浆降钙素原（pPCT）和CRP的动力学变化。这项前瞻性观察性研究纳入了17只脓毒症犬、16只nSIRS犬和15只健康犬。对健康犬在第1、2和3天以及nSIRS或脓毒症犬在第1、2、3和4天评估血液学参数、pPCT和CRP。为脓毒症和nSIRS犬计算简化急性患者生理和实验室评估（APPLE）评分。使用经过验证的犬用PCT ELISA检测血浆PCT。健康犬（110.3 pg/mL；四分位数间距74.7 - 138）与脓毒症犬（81.6 pg/mL；四分位数间距50.1 - 157.1）或nSIRS犬（105.3 pg/mL；四分位数间距87.6 - 164.7）的pPCT中位数无显著差异。先前的抗菌治疗与脓毒症犬pPCT浓度降低无关。在脓毒症组中，非存活犬第1天的pPCT浓度显著高于存活犬（<0.05）。相比之下，nSIRS犬（100.7 mg/L；四分位数间距67 - 141.9）或脓毒症犬（131.9 mg/L；四分位数间距75.7 - 194.8）的CRP中位数高于参考范围（<10.5 mg/L），且在脓毒症成功进行抗菌治疗的前4天内显著下降。总之，虽然血浆PCT显示出一定的预后价值，但它并非评估脓毒症犬所选抗菌治疗疗效的有用生物标志物。
