Evaluation of selected cytokines in the assessment of canine Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): preliminary results

The quantification of circulating inflammatory biomarkers is relevant in the assessment of canine SIRS. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the role of selected cytokines (IL6, IL8, IL10, IL15, MCP-1, GM-CSF; Millipore) during SIRS in dogs and their potential to differentiate sepsis from SIRS of non-infectious origin. Furthermore, a potential correlation between cytokines and other clinical and clinicopathological variables was investigated. Twenty dogs admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of SIRS related to 3 different diseases (parvovirus, n=8; septic peritonitis, n=7; acute pancreatitis; n=5) were included. Ten blood donor dogs were included as healthy controls. Blood was collected upon admission by venipuncture, immediately processed at +4°C, and at least two aliquots of EDTA-plasma were stored at -80°C upon analysis. Additional laboratory analysis included measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP). Illness severity was calculated by the acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation fast score (APPLE). Cytokines were assayed by a multiparametric xMAP Luminex. CRP was assayed on serum using an immunoturbidimetric method on an automated chemistry analyzer. Results were analyzed by non-parametric statistic analysis. SIRS dogs have significantly higher serum CRP compared to controls (p