Fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin in the assessment of glycaemic control in dogs

Fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) concentrations were measured simultaneously in 222 dogs (96 healthy and 126 sick dogs). The dogs were d ivided into 3 groups according to the glucose concentration: hypo, hyper an d euglycaemic dogs. Serum fructosamine concentrations were measured by the reduction test with nitroblue tetrazolium. A turbidimetric inhibition immun oassay and specific polyclonal antibodies were used to evaluate glycated he moglobin concentrations. A significant correlation was found between glucos e concentration and either fructosamine (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) or glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The correlation was higher in hyperglyca emic dogs for fructosamine (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001) and in hypoglycaemic dogs for glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.91, p < 0.005). We found a significant corr elation between serum fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.65, p < 0 .0001) when all the dogs were studied. A significant correlation was observ ed between serum fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin only in hyperglycaemi c dogs (r = 0.82, p < 0.0003). Thus, fructosamine and HbA1c may be consider ed for use in screening tests for diabetes mellitus in dogs and clinical te sts for monitoring control and evaluation of the diabetic animal's response to treatment. The choice of the analytical assay depends on the characteri stic and analytical opportunities of the laboratory, as well as the number of serum samples to be analysed.