Session 10: Clinical pathology; dermatology; primary practice and the profession

Abstract

To identify serum biomarkers differentiating dogs with and without osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsFollowing institutional ethical approval, 24 dogs (27.2-48.5 kg, 3.6-13.6 years) previously diagnosed with OA affecting different joints with varying severity were included in the study. Sixteen dogs (16.2-36 kg, 2.0-6.7 years) without detectable orthopaedic pathology were included as clinically healthy controls. Other disorders were ruled out by thorough clinical examinations and standard hematological and biochemical analyses. Serum was stored at -80 o C until analysis of five biomarkers using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays: hyaloronic acid (HA), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), procollagen type IIA (PIIANP), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and collagen type-2 cleavage (C2C). Medians and confidence intervals were calculated and differences between groups were tested for significance using Mann Whitney tests (p<0.05). ResultsHigher concentrations of C2C and MMP-13 were observed in dogs with OA (median, [95% CIs] C2C: 23.7 ng/ml [18.2; 45.2 ng/ml], MMP-13: 0.70 ng/ml [0.51;1.09 ng/ml]) compared to clinically healthy dogs (C2C: 12.3 ng/ml [10.1; 35.3 ng/ml], MMP 13: 0.34 ng/ml [0.27; 0.88 ng/ml]), whereas lower concentrations of PIIANP were observed in dogs with OA (11.6 ng/ml [10.7; 18.02 ng/ml] compared to clinically healthy dogs (15.8 ng/ml [11.7; 31.7 ng/ml]). Observed differences were not significant. Statement (conclusions)None of the 5 biomarkers measured in the present study could differentiate heterogeneous groups of dogs with and without OA. Further studies are recommended to investigate possible diagnostic potentials of C2C, MMP-13 or PIIANP in subgroups of dogs with OA.