RESUMEN
Tissue fibrosis as complication of diabetes mellitus is known in humans. Because TGF-ß1induces fibrosis and is elevated in humans suffering from diabetes mellitus we measured this growth factor in serum of dogs with diabetes mellitus and compared it with healthy dogs and those with fibrotic diseases. Further we measured the expression of TGF-ß1receptor on lens capsule to investigate possible association between diabetes mellitus and cataract associated alterations. TGF-ß1 was measured in serum of 12 dogs with diabetes mellitus, 20 healthy controls and 12 dogs with fibrotic diseases. Dogs with diabetes mellitus and fibrotic diseases have significantly increased TGF-ß1 serum concentrations compared to healthy controls. Some dogs with diabetes mellitus showed increased expression of TGF-ß1 receptor in lens capsule. Based on our observations we can conclude that TGF-ß1 elevation in dogs with diabetes mellitus may induces complications of the disease and may participates on lens alteration.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved in the acute phase reaction during inflammatory disease, including septicemia and the inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). In people, IL-6 has been studied as a prognostic marker in intensive care medicine, where nonsurvivors had significantly higher IL-6 concentrations than survivors. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 in dogs admitted to the intensive care unit based on sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: Dogs suffering from different severe diseases treated in the intensive care unit were divided into 2 groups of survivors and nonsurvivors. Serum IL-6 concentrations were measured with a canine-specific ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. RESULTS: Sixty-nine dogs were included in the study, including 20 survivors, 9 nonsurvivors, and 40 control dogs. In the control group, IL-6 serum concentrations were below the detection level (0 pg/mL). In the group of nonsurviving dogs, IL-6 ranged from 45-4656 pg/mL (median 1398 pg/mL). The surviving dogs had a range of 0-405 pg/mL (median 84.5 pg/mL). The mean IL-6 concentration was significantly higher (P < .001) in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Using a cutoff of 400 pg/mL, a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 95% were determined. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that IL-6 is a useful prognostic marker for canine critical care patients with acute internal disease.
