Osteoarthritis (OA) affects all mammals, being an important and costly disease. We aimed to evaluate IL-1 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the synovial fluid in dogs with naturally occurring hip osteoarthritis (OA), and its relation with patients’ clinical, radiographic and thermographic disease signs.
One hundred (N=100) joints of active police working dogs with hip OA were evaluated. SF IL-1 and CRP levels, weight distribution, joint range of motion at flexion and extension, thigh girth, digital thermography and hip grade were recorded. Data from four Clinical Metrology Instruments, the Hudson Visual Analogue Scale, Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs, Canine Brief Pain Inventory and Canine Orthopedic Index, were collected. Results were compared by different IL-1 and CRP concentration levels and OFA scores with the Independent Samples T-Test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient, with p< 0.05.
Results: Sample included 100 pelvic limbs, equally distributed between left and right pelvic limbs 30 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 6.5±2.4 years and body weight of 26.7±5.2kg. IL-1 levels, particularly above 200pg/mL, may be related with the development of radiographic signs, which then reflects on worse CMI scores. It was unclear if CRP level was a consequence of inflammatory activity within the joint or a reflection of better prognosis. Increasing body weight was related with worse CMI scores.
Conclusions: This is the first study to describe the relation of IL-1 and CRP synovial concentrations levels with several clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, laboratorial findings and clinical metrology instruments results of patients with OA.
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