Serum protein electrophoresis in dogs with chronic hepatitis

Data regarding serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) in dogs with chronic hepatitis (CH) are limited. CH may cause alterations on SPE of people and dogs, and polyclonal gammopathies with β” γ bridging has been suggested to be nearly pathognomonic. The aim of this study was to describe the most common alterations on SPE in dogs with CH and evaluate SPE in relation with leukogram and histopathologic inflammatory activity and fibrosis score. SPE of dogs with a histopathological-diagnosed CH were retrospec- tively reviewed. Serum proteins were separate on agarose gel into: albumin, alpha (α1 and α2), beta (β1 and β2) and gamma (γ) globulins; a computer produced a densitometer trace, showing protein fractions and reference ranges. We considered percentage values of each frac- tion. Dogs were included if a complete haemato-biochemical profile was also available. Based on the histopathologic evaluation, inflamma- tory activity score (A, from 0 to 5) and fibrosis score (F, from 0 to 4) were assigned to each sample. Dogs were divided into groups: A≤2 and A>2; F≤2 and F>2. Differences between groups were investigated using Unpaired t-test. Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Twenty-six dogs were included. The most common alterations on SPE were decreased A/G ratio (76.9%) and hypoalbuminemia (57.7%), followed by increase α1-globulins% (34.6%) and α2-globulins% (34.6%); increase of γ-globulins% (26.9%); increase of β1-globulins% (23%) and β2-globulins% (19.2%). Only 1 dog showed the β-γ bridging. Dogs with hypergammaglobulinemia had leukocytosis and neu- trophilia more frequently than dogs without (P= 0,014). Group A>2 showed higher β2%-globulins than group A≤2 (P=0.016) and group F>2 showed higher β2%-globulins (P=0.02) than group F≤2. This is one of the few studies that evaluates SPE in dogs with CH. SPE in these patients showed signs of inflammation that can help clinicians to monitor the disease progression or remission. Increase of β2%-globulins seems to be influenced by a more severe grade ofnflammation and fibrosis. The β” γ bridging described in literature do not seems to be a reliable indicator of CH