Cardiac biomarkers, acute phase proteins and survival in small animals

Sanz González, Íñigo (2018) Cardiac biomarkers, acute phase proteins and survival in small animals. MVM(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Blood-based biomarkers are commonly used in veterinary patients; however, cardiac blood testing is a relatively new concept in Small Animal Medicine and the correct use of these circulating substances remains uncertain. This Masters project includes two retrospective studies investigating the association between cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and survival in dogs and cats with cardiac disease and one prospective study exploring the relationship between cTnI, B-type prohormone natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and acute phase proteins (APP) in cats with cardiac and non-cardiac diseases.
The first retrospective study included 94 dogs with cardiac diseases. Higher cTnI concentrations were associated with shorter median survival times. Dogs with cardiac disease and cTnI concentrations above the reference range (>0.16ng/ml) had a median survival time of 29 months whereas dogs with cTnI concentrations within the reference range (<0.16ng/ml) had a median survival time of 44 months. However, there was a significant overlap of cTnI concentrations between survivors and non-survivors. The contribution of arrhythmias to cTnI release remains uncertain as some dogs with severe arrhythmias and high cTnI values survived long periods.
The second retrospective study included 51 cats with cardiac disease, 9 with hyperthyroidism and 8 with systemic diseases. Increased cTnI concentrations were associated with shorter median survival time in cats with cardiac disease. Cats with cTnI concentrations above 5ng/ml survived a median of 1 month whereas cats with cTnI concentrations between 0.5-5ng/ml survived a median of 15 months.
Finally, in a prospective study, two cardiac biomarkers (cTnI and NTproBNP) and four APP (Serum Amyloid A, SAA; Haptoglobin, Hp; C-reactive protein, CRP; α₁-acid glycoprotein, AGP) were measured in 99 cats with cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. Signficantly higher concentrations of hscTnI, NT-proBNP and AGP were found in cats in congestive heart failure (CHF). Concentrations of cardiac biomarkers were commonly increased in cats with non-cardiac diseases. Some of these animals were non-anaemic, non-azotaemic and had normal echocardiographic examinations. No associations were found between cardiac and inflammatory markers.

• Item Type: Thesis (MVM(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Biomarkers, troponins, cardiac disease, acute phase proteins.
• Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General); S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF600 Veterinary Medicine
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine > Small Animal Clinical Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: French, Professor Anne T. and Wotton, Dr. Paul
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: DR INIGO SANZ
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-30704
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 02 Aug 2018 13:34
• Last Modified: 03 Oct 2018 07:04
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/30704