C-REACTIVE PROTEIN-CONCENTRATION IN DOGS WITH INFLAMMATORY LEUKOGRAMS

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was measured, using an au tomated immunoturbidimetric assay, in 44 clinically normal dogs and 67 dogs with band neutrophil count greater than or equal to 10(9) cells/ L, and values were found to be significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different. Correlation of serum CRP concentration and band neutr ophil count in the 67 dogs with greater than or equal to 10(9) band ne utrophils/L resulted in a statistically significant (P less than or eq ual to 0.05), but low correlation coefficient of 0.34. Serum CRP conce ntration and CBC values were determined for 6 clinically normal dogs u ndergoing anesthesia (controls) and 6 clinically normal dogs undergoin g anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Significant alterations in CBC re sults and serum CRP concentration, compared with baseline values, were lacking in dogs of the control group. Serum CRP concentration was sig nificantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased above baseline val ues in dogs undergoing surgery and was significantly (P less than or e qual to 0.05) increased, compared with values in control dogs by 12 ho urs after surgery. In dogs undergoing surgery, serum CRP concentration was also significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different from values in control dogs at 28 and 36 hours, but not at the 76- and 124- hour sample collection times. Alterations in CBC values compatible wit h possible or convincing inflammation were detected in 83% of the dogs undergoing surgery at the 8- and 12-hour postsurgery sample collectio n times, 100% of dogs at 16, 22, 28, and 36 hours after surgery, 83% o f dogs at 52 and 76 hours after surgery, 67% of dogs at 100 hours afte r surgery, and 0% of dogs at 124 hours after surgery. It was concluded that significant increases in CRP concentration in dogs with surgical trauma were not detected earlier than CBC alterations compatible with possible or convincing inflammation.