Markers of inflammation in experimentally induced pancreatitis in dogs (Part I): C- reactive protein and white blood cell counts

SUMMARY Experimental pancreatitis was induced in 6 dogs by ligation of the pancreatic ducts. The pancreatitis induction was confirmed by conventional histology on the 5 th day after surgery. Plasma CRP (C-reactive protein) concentrations and WBC (White Blood Cells) counts were determined 72 hours and immediately before (hour 0) the surgical intervention and 3, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after. Both parameters significantly increased compared to basal values since the 3 rd hour for CRP concentrations and the 6 th hour for WBC counts, reached maximal values at the 24 th hours and remained dramatically elevated until the 96 th hour and were highly and positively correlated (r = 0.84, P < 0.01). These results showed that the haematological and the biochemical parameters both evidenced the occurrence of an inflammatory response but that plasma CRP was an earlier marker than WBC count.