Plasma ADAMTS13 activity in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic enteropathy

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 is a von Willebrand factor cleaving enzyme that is associated with prothrombotic/hypercoagulable states in humans. In people, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity is reduced with inflammatory bowel disease. Objectives of the study were to measure plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity, von Willebrand factor antigen and von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity correlated with von Willebrand factor antigen, von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity and disease activity, which was assessed using the Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index.

Plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity, von Willebrand factor antigen and von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity were measured in 19 dogs with chronic enteropathy. In a prior study, plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity was measured in 40 healthy dogs. Twenty of the 40 healthy dogs had plasma von Willebrand factor antigen and von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity measured. Plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Diapharma®). For each variable, differences between medians were compared between dogs with chronic enteropathy and healthy dogs by permutation testing with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Correlations between A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity, von Willebrand factor antigen, von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity and Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index were assessed using Spearman's non-parametric test. Significance was set at P < .05.

Plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity and von Willebrand factor antigen in dogs with chronic enteropathy were not different from healthy dogs. Thirty-three percent (2/6) of the dogs with chronic enteropathy and hypoalbuminemia had plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity below the reference interval. Plasma von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity was lower in dogs with chronic enteropathy than in healthy dogs. Plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity negatively correlated with plasma von Willebrand factor collagen binding activity, von Willebrand factor antigen and Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index scores in dogs with chronic enteropathy.

Reduced A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity appears to be uncommon in dogs with chronic enteropathy. Plasma A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity does correlate with von Willebrand factor and chronic enteropathy disease activity. Further investigation is warranted to assess A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 activity in chronic enteropathy dogs with hypoalbuminemia.