Abstracts | EQUINE
Salivary alpha‐amylase activity and concentration in
horses with acute abdominal disease: Association with
outcome
M. D. Contreras‐Aguilar, S. Martínez‐Subiela, J. J. Cerón, M. Martín‐Cuervo, F. Tecles, D. Escribano
A prospective cohort. [14.2–168.9] IU/L and 388.3 [189.1–675.8] ng/mL,
respectively) (P<0.001). The sAA activity was higher
in non‐survivors (median = 479.0 [78.7–2064.0]
IU/L, n = 8) compared to survivors (median = 19.3
[12.1–103.7] IU/L, n = 25, P<0.001) and sAA activity
and concentration correlated (P<0.001) moderately
with HR (r = 0.66 and r = 0.61, respectively). sAA
activity correlated weakly with salivary cortisol (r =
0.45, P<0.001) and systemic inflammatory response
syndrome score (r = 0.43, P<0.05), while activity and
concentration correlated (P<0.001) moderately with
plasma lactate concentration (r = 0.57 and r = 0.60,
respectively). The sAA activity was significantly (P =
0.01) associated with increased risk of nonsurvival.
Methods Main limitations
Background
Salivary biomarkers could be useful to objectively
evaluate critical illness and prognosis for survival in
horses with acute abdominal disease.
Objectives
To compare salivary alpha‐amylase (sAA) activity
and concentration in healthy horses and horses with
acute abdominal disease, and evaluate the association
between sAA activity and concentration with disease
severity and outcome.
Study design
sAA activity, measured using a colorimetric
commercial kit, and concentration, measured using
a Time‐resolved immunofluorometric assay, in 25
healthy horses and in 33 horses with acute abdominal
disease was compared using an ANOVA. Associations
between survival to discharge and sAA activity and
concentration and other clinical parameters were
examined using univariable logistic regression and
Spearman correlation.
Pain scores were not recorded. The sample population
was small.
Conclusions
The sAA activity, but not concentration, shows
potential as a biomarker of prognosis for survival in
horses with acute abdominal disease.
Results
sAA activity and concentration were different between
healthy (median = 4.3 [2.6–11.2] IU/L and 58.4 [53.4–
80.6] ng/mL, respectively) and diseased (median = 29.8
• Volume 21 Issue 2 | May 2019 •
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