Evaluation of some lung-specific epithelial and endothelial damage biomarkers in the determination of lung damage in cats with acute respiratory diseases

The aim of this study was to determine whether epithelial and endothelial damage develops in the lung of cats with acute respiratory disease (ARD) using some lung-specific damage biomarkers. Fourty cats with ARD and 20 healthy cats were enrolled. Clinical examination, blood gases, complete blood count (CBC) and thoracic radiographic examination were performed at enrollment. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), surfactant-D (SP-D), sE-selectin, nitric oxide (NO), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were measured in serum using feline specific commericial ELISA kit. Twenty three (57.5%) of the cats with ARD recovered and survived, while 17 (42.5%) died. Serum ET-1, SP-D, sE-selectin, IL-6 and GDF-15 concentrations were significantly higher in cats with ARD (p < 0.01). There was also a significant increase in granulocyte (Gra) and monocyte (Mon) counts in cats with ARD. No difference was observed arterial blood gas value (P ˃.05). Common findings on thoracic radiographs of cats with ARD included bilateral pulmonary infiltrate. In conclusion, serum ET-1, IL-6, sE-selectin, SP-D and GDF-15 concentrations, biomarkers of acute lung and endothelial damage, were significantly increased in cats with ARD. It was determined that ET-1, sE-selectin, SP-D and GDF-15 biomarkers have potential and reliable diagnostic value in determining acute lung damage.