RESULTS: Fifty-one client-owned dogs diagnosed with TC based on fluoroscopic and clinical signs were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups according to the severity of cough (grade of cough: 0, 1, and 2). Signalments, comorbidities, and fluoroscopic characteristics were compared among the groups retrospectively. The serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), surfactant protein-A (SP-A), and syndecan-1 (SDC-1) levels were measured in all groups. No significant differences in age, breed, sex, or clinical history were observed among the groups. Concomitant pharyngeal collapse increased significantly with the severity of cough (p = .031). Based on the fluoroscopic characteristics, the TC grade of the carinal region increased significantly and consistently with the grade of cough (p = .03). The serum MMP-9 level was significantly higher in the grade 2 group than that in the grade 0 group (p = .014). The serum IL-6 level was significantly lower in the grade 1 group than that in the grade 0 group (p = .020). The serum SP-A and SDC-1 levels did not differ significantly among the groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The severity of cough with the progression of TC can be predicted with the fluoroscopic TC grade at the carinal region. MMP-9 may be used as an objective serum biomarker that represents cough severity to understand the pathogenesis.
结果:本研究招募了51只基于荧光透视和临床体征诊断为TC的患者所属犬,并根据咳嗽的严重程度分为三组(咳嗽等级:0、1和2)。信号,合并症,回顾性比较各组的透视特征。血清基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9),白细胞介素-6(IL-6),表面活性剂蛋白-A(SP-A),在所有组中测量syndecan-1(SDC-1)水平。年龄无显著差异,品种,性别,或观察各组间的临床病史。伴随的咽部塌陷随着咳嗽的严重程度而显著增加(p=.031)。根据荧光镜的特点,隆突区域的TC等级显着增加,并且与咳嗽等级一致(p=0.03)。2级组血清MMP-9水平明显高于0级组(p=0.014)。1级组血清IL-6水平显著低于0级组(p=0.020)。各组血清SP-A和SDC-1水平无显著差异。
结论:咳嗽的严重程度随着TC的进展可以通过荧光镜检查在隆突区域的TC分级来预测。MMP-9可以用作代表咳嗽严重程度的客观血清生物标志物以了解发病机理。