Acute-Phase Proteins of Healthy Horses and Horses Naturally Affected by Colic Syndrome.
Authors: Souto Pollyana Cordeiro, Fonseca Leandro Abreu da, Orozco Andres Mauricio Ortega, Lopez Camilo Jose Ramirez, Ermita Pedro Ancelmo Nunes, Carvalho Filho Wilson Pinheiro de, Girardi Fabricia Modolo
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Distinguishing between medical and surgical colic cases in the acute phase remains challenging for equine practitioners, yet early prognostic indicators could substantially improve treatment planning and outcomes. Researchers collected blood samples from 9 healthy controls and 17 colic-affected horses (divided into clinical and surgical groups) at admission and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-treatment, then used mass spectrometry and gel electrophoresis to identify and quantify nine acute-phase proteins including serum amyloid A (SAA) and ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin showed significant elevation in surgical colic cases at admission compared with clinical cases and healthy horses, whilst SAA demonstrated a sustained elevation through 72 hours in both colic groups, with notably sharper increases in the surgical group at 24, 48, and 72 hours. These findings suggest that measuring ceruloplasmin and SAA trajectories offers clinicians a measurable biochemical method to differentiate surgical from non-surgical presentations at initial assessment and to monitor treatment response, potentially informing decisions about prognostic counselling and intervention timing. Incorporating serial acute-phase protein monitoring into routine colic workups could provide an objective complement to clinical and ultrasound findings, particularly valuable in cases where surgical necessity remains equivocal.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin levels can help identify which colic cases will require surgery versus respond to medical management, potentially improving decision-making at initial presentation.
- •Serial protein measurements over 72 hours provide prognostic information; sustained elevation of serum amyloid A indicates more severe disease requiring closer monitoring or surgical intervention.
- •These acute-phase protein biomarkers offer an objective laboratory tool to complement clinical assessment and may help predict treatment outcomes in equine colic cases.
Key Findings
- •Nine acute-phase proteins were identified in horse serum using SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry, including ceruloplasmin, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and α1-acid glycoprotein.
- •Ceruloplasmin was significantly elevated at presentation (M0) in surgical colic cases compared to clinical colic and healthy controls, indicating it as an indicator of colic requiring surgical resolution.
- •Serum amyloid A showed sustained elevation in both clinical and surgical colic groups at 72 hours post-treatment compared to controls, with surgical cases showing earlier increases at 24, 48, and 72 hours.
- •Serial measurement of ceruloplasmin and serum amyloid A was useful for differentiating between clinical versus surgical colic and establishing prognosis in horses with colic syndrome.