Markers of inflammation in experimentally induced pancreatitis in dogs (Part II): cor- relation between clinical parameters and haptoglobin

SUMMARY The aim of the study was to investigate changes in plasma haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations during a trauma inflammatory response in dogs and to compare variations with clinical signs. Plasma Hp concentrations measured using a commercial non species specific kit and clinical parameters (body temperature, respiratory and heart rates) were monitored during experimentally induced acute pancreatitis by ligation of the pancreatic ducts in 6 dogs, before and from 3 to 96 hours after the surgery. The body temperature transiently and slightly increased 6-24 hours after, the respiratory rate was significantly accelerated since the 6th hour, remained more rapid than initial values until the 96 th hour and was positively correlated with the cardiac frequency whose the increase lasted from the 24 th to the 96 th hour. However, the clinical parameters have remained in normal ranges or weakly exceeded them. Plasma Hp concentrations have also lately significantly increased (since the 48 th hour) and maximal values (percentage of variations compared to initial values: 81.6%) were recorded on the 96th hour, leading to positive correlations with the respiratory and the heart rates. These results showed that Hp can be considered as a moderate acute phase protein in dogs with a trauma inflammation.