Bioactive Adrenomedullin in Dogs with Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Prospective, Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Biomarkers
• Critical Care

Background:

• Sepsis and septic shock are critical conditions in dogs, necessitating early and accurate diagnosis for improved prognosis.
• Bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) is a peptide hormone with vasodilatory properties, and its role in canine sepsis is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate plasma bio-ADM concentrations in dogs with septic shock, sepsis without shock, and healthy controls.
• To determine if bio-ADM can serve as a diagnostic marker for canine sepsis and septic shock, and correlate with disease severity and survival.

Main Methods:

• Plasma bio-ADM concentrations were measured using a human sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 25 dogs with septic shock, 25 with sepsis, and 25 healthy controls.
• Illness severity scores and survival data were collected and analyzed in relation to bio-ADM levels.

Main Results:

• Plasma bio-ADM concentrations were significantly higher in septic dogs compared to healthy controls.
• Bio-ADM levels were not significantly different between dogs with septic shock and those with sepsis alone.
• Higher bio-ADM concentrations correlated with increased illness severity scores, but not with survival outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) shows potential as a biomarker for canine sepsis and disease severity.
• Bio-ADM measurement may not be sufficiently accurate for differentiating septic shock from sepsis or predicting survival in dogs.
• Further research is needed to explore the diagnostic utility of bio-ADM in various inflammatory conditions and as a marker for treatment response in canine sepsis.