Joint damage and inflammation in canine arthritis

In the last few years, the role of inflammation in canine arthropathies has been object of several study, finalized to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms and to identify possible markers of disease useful. The aim of the present study has been the evaluation of cytokines, acute phase proteins, oxidative and antioxidant status and lymphocyte subsets as possible markers of inflammation in canine joint disease in the dog. The different parameters have been measured on samples of peripheral blood and synovial fluid samples, collected from dogs affected by osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis, as well as from healthy dogs as control. Results have been compared between group and with data obtained from the complete clinical examination, to evaluate the possible role as markers of disease in canine arthropathies, in early diagnosis, monitoring and target of therapy. Interesting data have been obtained from all the examined parameters, in particular from cytokine and acute phase proteins analysis, that seem to have the most useful clinical applications.