Abstract
The extent of trauma in a patient can be difficult for a clinician to quantify. A prospective study was performed on 2 groups of dogs undergoing either ovariohysterectomy or hemilaminectomy. The serum activity of creatine kinase and serum concentration of C-reactive protein were evaluated preoperatively and then at 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively in both groups. The results were compared statistically both within and between the 2 groups. A wide range of results was found at each time point for both analytes although there were no significant differences for either analyte between the 2 surgical groups preoperatively. Thereafter there were significant differences in creatine kinase activity levels between the 2 groups. C-reactive protein concentration results were very similar in the 2 groups with no statistical difference at any time point. The results of this study suggest that the evaluation of CK and CRP at any one time point in a traumatised animal is of limited value. However, the evaluation of the trend of these 2 analytes, even over a relatively short time period, may allow for useful prognostication in clinical cases.
Highlights
Trauma of diverse origins is a common reason for presentation of pets for treatment
The median Creatine kinase (CK) activity on presentation was greater in the spine group, in both spay and spine groups the medians were greater than the upper limit of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) reference interval (49-146 U/ )
The overall range of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was similar in both groups and the medians both fell within the normal reference range of the OVAH (
Summary
Trauma of diverse origins is a common reason for presentation of pets for treatment. It is often difficult clinically to objectively quantify the severity of any trauma suffered by an animal. Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found predominantly in skeletal muscle and significantly elevated serum activity is largely associated with muscle damage. It is an extremely sensitive indicator of muscle damage, but is not specific as to cause[14,27]. Serum elevations in dogs are associated with cell membrane leakage and will be seen in any condition associated with muscular inflamaSmall Animal Surgery Section, bSmall Animal Medicine Section and cClinical Pathology Section, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pivate Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa. DEpidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
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