Serum concentrations of PIIINP aminopeptide in dogs with liver fibrosis

The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum concentration of the type III procollagen aminopeptide in dogs, and to assess its utility in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 20 dogs of different breeds and of both genders, between 7 and 15 years old. Based on the results of the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of liver fibrosis, the dogs were divided into five groups. The mean serum PIIINP concentration in the group of dogs with stage 1 and 2 liver fibrosis (groups 2 and 3) was five-fold higher than in healthy dogs (group 1). In turn, the mean PIIINP concentration in the group of dogs with stage 3 (group 4) and stage 4 (group 5) fibrosis was 10-fold higher than that of the control group (group 1). Based on the results, we found that the serum PIIINP concentration correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis, assessed based on a histopathological examination. Therefore, PIIINP serum concentration tests may be a promising non-invasive diagnostic technique that could be used in veterinary hepatology to assess the degree of liver fibrosis.