Refractometric total plasma protein measurement as a cage‐side indicator of hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia in hospitalized dogs

Abstract

Suboptimal sensitivity limits the use of refractometric TPP for prediction of hypoalbuminemia in the context of patient screening; a high proportion of false negatives may result. However, identification of a refractometric TPP<58 g/L is strongly indicative of both serum hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia, with high specificity, and warrants further investigation. Refractometric readings may be falsely increased in patients with hyperglycemia or hypercholesterolemia.

Traditional and Quantitative Assessment of Acid‐Base and Shock Variables in Horses with Atypical Myopathy

“…The authors also recognize that TP measurement using refractometer, as used on some of the studied horses, is less precise than the use of automatic analyzers and refractometric results might be falsely increased by hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia. 32 Lactate concentrations, as well as its estimates AG and BEua, were abnormal in most AM cases. Lactate is typically produced in conditions with tissue hypoxia and cell lysis, 21 which might occur in AM caused by cardiac pathology, 10 cardiovascular shock, hypoventilation, 1,9 and inadequate mitochondrial oxygen utilization in muscles related to MADD 6 and lowered activity of mitochondrial complexes.…”

“…TP, BEtp, and A tot were demonstrated by the current study to have few effects on acid‐base status in AM, but A tot could be underestimated mainly by the effect of hyperphosphatemia. The authors also recognize that TP measurement using refractometer, as used on some of the studied horses, is less precise than the use of automatic analyzers and refractometric results might be falsely increased by hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia …”

The effect of urea on refractometric total protein measurement in dogs and cats with azotemia

“…An increase in serum glucose and cholesterol of 180 mg/dL and 38.6 mg/dL was associated with increases in refractometric total proteins of 0.23 g/dL and 0.14 g/dL, respectively. In the same article, there was no association between increased total plasma proteins an and increased total bilirubin or urea . An earlier study demonstrated that in vitro addition of urea at a single increased concentration of 273 mg/dL to bovine serum showed an increased refractometric plasma protein reading measured by biuret from 8.0 g/dL to 8.5 g/dL .…”

“…Patients excluded from the study included those with serum or plasma samples demonstrating lipemia, marked icterus (due to the interference caused to the biuret assay), or moderate to severe hemolysis that might obscure the refractometric line on the reticle. Dogs with glucose > 295 mg/dL and cholesterol > 278.6 mg/dL or 213.6 mg/dL (dogs or cats, respectively) were omitted . Exclusion limits for glucose and cholesterol were calculated based on the values previously reported to interfere with the refractometric total protein measurements, added to the upper limit of the RI.…”

Cardiorespiratory physiological perturbations after acute smoke-induced lung injury and during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in sheep

“…The reduction in the ECLS pump speed (Figure 46 Certain observations regarding this study could affect the interpretation of red blood cell indices and their derivatives. For example, animals differ from humans in that estimated changes in plasma volume is preferably determined by changes in packed cell volume (PCV) or haemoglobin concentration and total plasma protein (TPP) [49][50][51] . Moreover, in animals, there is a wider range of normal PCV than TPP 52 .…”