Systemic inflammation in dogs with advanced-stage heart failure

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough human studies have shown that inflammation plays a role in the development of congestive heart failure, scarce information exists on white blood cell count (WBC) and differential cell counts in various stages of heart failure in man and dogs. A few studies demonstrated increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a major acute-phase protein, in cardiac diseases in dogs. Our research aimed to investigate whether CRP concentration, WBC and neutrophil count (NEUT), as markers of systemic inflammation, are elevated in canine cardiovascular patients. We also aimed to find out whether there is an association between CRP concentration and WBC and NEUT, as well as associations between these inflammatory markers and selected echocardiographic parameters. Sixty-two client-owned canine cardiac patients and 12 healthy dogs were included in the study. The patients were classified into International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council classes (ISACHC I–III). The serum CRP concentration was determined using a canine CRP test kit. WBC and NEUT were determined using an automated hematology analyzer.ResultsSignificantly higher serum CRP concentration, WBC and NEUT were found in the decompensated stage of heart failure (ISACHC III) compared with healthy dogs and with patients in ISACHC group II and ISACHC group I. Serum CRP concentration significantly positively correlated with WBC (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) and NEUT (r = 0.58, P = 0.002) in the ISACHC III group, while no significant correlations were found in the ISACHC I and II groups. A significant negative correlation between serum CRP concentration and the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = − 0.49, P = 0.046) and a significant positive correlation between CRP and the E wave velocity of the mitral valve inflow (r = 0.52, P = 0.046) were found in the ISACHC III group.ConclusionsThe CRP concentration, WBC and NEUT were significantly increased in advanced-stage heart failure patients in comparison with compensated patients and healthy dogs, which indicate the presence of systemic inflammation. However, normal CRP concentration and normal WBC and NEUT can also be present in heart failure.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13028-018-0372-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cardiovascular‐renal axis disorder and acute‐phase proteins in cats with congestive heart failure caused by primary cardiomyopathy

“…The most commonly studied APP in heart failure is CRP. In dogs, CRP has been shown to be increased in CHF and correlated with disease severity 33,36,38 . It does not appear to be a major APP in cats, 64 but interestingly, we identified significant positive correlations of CRP with renal markers.…”

“…So far, only a few studies have investigated APPs in cats with cardiac disease 26,29,30 . In humans and dogs, several APPs have been associated with heart failure 31‐38 . The relationship between APPs and CHF in cats, however, is unclear.…”

Changes of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in dogs with different stages of heart failure

“…The present study is associated with several limitations. First, the sample size was small and dogs were not sub-divided as MMVD and DCM in this study as has been in a previous study about this topic in which it was indicated that etiology had no effect on the results of hematology, serum CRP and echocardiographic measurements (13). Therefore, this should be considered a pilot study and additional studies should be made in a larger population and also with different speci c diseases.…”

“…Although both of them are commonly considered non-in ammatory conditions (6,7), studies have found increased circulating in ammatory cytokines in dogs and humans with CHF due to MMVD (8,9) and DCM (7,10). Increased expression and release of in ammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), as well as serum C-reactive protein (CRP), have been described in humans (11,12) and dogs with CHF (13). Increased levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and decreased levels of interleukins have also been found in dogs with CHF (8), but there is no data available on how CRP or other in ammatory biomarkers can change in severe cases (6).…”

Changes of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in dogs with different stages of heart failure

“…In ammatory and oxidative stress markers can contribute to cardiac remodeling in the progression of CHF in dogs. In this study, CHF due to MMVD or DCM was diagnosed based on a thorough cardiopulmonary assessment as reported in the previous studies (5,13), and classi ed by stage A through D according to the ACVIM consensus statement guidelines (3).…”