Pihl, Tina H.Scheepers, ElrienSanz, MacarenaGoddard, AmeliaPage, PatrickToft, NilsKjelgaard-Hansen, MadsAndersen, Pia H.Jacobsen, Stine2017-09-202016-10Pihl, T.H., Scheepers, E., Sanz, M., Goddard, A., Page, P., Toft, N., Kjelgaard-Hansen, M., Andersen, P.H. & Jacobsen, S. 2016, 'Acute-phase proteins as diagnostic markers in horses with colic', Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 664-674.1479-3261 (print)1476-4431 (online)10.1111/vec.12504http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62480OBJECTIVE : To investigate the diagnostic potential of the concentrations of acute-phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and fibrinogen in blood and peritoneal fluid (PF) for differentiating horses with inflammatory colic (entero-colitis and peritonitis) from those with surgical colic. DESIGN : Prospective observational multicenter study. SETTING : Two university referral hospitals. ANIMALS : Horses referred for severe acute abdominal pain to Hospital 1 (n = 148) or Hospital 2 (n = 78). INTERVENTION : Blood and PF samples collected at admission were used for acute-phase protein concentration measurement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS : Blood and PF samples collected at admission were used for acute-phase protein concentration measurement. CONCLUSIONS : Evaluation of SAA in serum improved the ability to differentiate horses with acute inflammatory colic requiring medical treatment from horses with colic requiring surgery, as it allowed an additional 4% of horses to be correctly classified into medical and surgical cases. Improved differentiation of these 2 groups of horses with colic may minimize the risk of unnecessary or delayed surgery.en© 2016 Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article : 'Acute-phase proteins as diagnostic markers in horses with colic', Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 664-674, 2016, doi : 10.1111/vec.12504. The definite version is available at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal/10.1111/(ISSN)1476-4431.Acute-phase proteinsPeritoneal fluid (PF)BloodHorse (Equus caballus)FibrinogenHaptoglobin (Hp)Serum amyloid A (SAA)ColicBody temperatureArea under the curveBiochemical markerWhite blood cell countLactateEquineDiagnostic markerPostprint Article