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Sensitivity and specificity of microRNA-122 for liver disease in dogs
W Oosthuyzen1, P W L Ten Berg1, B Francis2
1Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, The United Kingdom.
Background:
Current tests for diagnosing liver disease in dogs are sub-optimal. MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of liver injury in humans and rodents. Circulating miR-122 could have utility in identifying dogs with liver disease.
Objective:
Establish the reference interval for miR-122 in healthy dogs and determine performance in a range of dog breeds with liver disease and control animals with non-liver disease.
Animals:
Stored serum from 120 healthy dogs, 100 dogs with non-liver diseases, and 30 dogs with histologically confirmed liver disease was analyzed.
Methods:
Retrospective study. Medical records of dogs with liver disease, non-liver disease and healthy dogs were reviewed. Serum miR-122 concentrations were measured by PCR and compared with the characteristics of the dogs and their conventional clinical measurements.
Results:
In healthy dogs the 2.5th, 50th, and 97.5th quartiles of miR-122 were 110 (90% CI 80-114), 594 (505-682), and 3312 (2925-5144) copies/microL, respectively. There was no difference between healthy dogs and dogs with non-liver disease (median ± IQR: healthy dogs 609 [327-1014] copies/microL; non-liver disease 607 [300-1351] copies/microL). miR-122 was higher in dogs with liver disease (11 332 [4418-20 520] copies/microL, P < .001 compared to healthy dogs). miR-122 identified dogs with liver disease with high accuracy (receiver operating characteristic area under curve for comparison with healthy dogs: 0.93 [95% CI 0.86-0.99]). The upper limit of normal for healthy dogs (3312 copies/microL) had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 97% for identifying liver disease.
Conclusion And Clinical Importance:
Liver disease can be sensitively and specifically diagnosed in dogs by measurement of miR-122.
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