Serum Haptoglobin Shows Promise as Biomarker for Feline Gingivitis in Preliminary Study
A novel pilot study has provided valuable new insights into the systemic inflammatory response associated with feline gingivitis, highlighting the potential of a specific blood marker for clinical use.
Key Finding: Serum haptoglobin (Hp) concentration is significantly elevated in cats with gingivitis and correlates with the clinical severity of the disease, suggesting its utility as an objective biomarker. In contrast, serum amyloid A (SAA) was largely undetectable in the same patients, indicating it has limited value for this condition.
Study Design:
The prospective, cross-sectional study, published in Veterinary Medicine and Science, compared 11 age- and sex-matched client-owned cats with gingivitis to 11 healthy controls. All cats were systemically healthy, seronegative for FIV/FeLV, and underwent a standardized oral examination under anesthesia. Gingivitis severity was scored using the validated Total Mouth Periodontal Score for Gingivitis (TMPS-G) index.
Results at a Glance:
Haptoglobin (Hp):
Significantly Elevated: Median Hp concentration was more than double in the gingivitis group (2.40 g/L) compared to the healthy control group (1.06 g/L), a difference that was highly statistically significant (p = 0.001).
Correlates with Disease Severity: A moderate positive correlation was found between circulating Hp levels and the TMPS-G clinical score (rho = 0.636, p = 0.040). This means the protein level increased in line with the visible severity of the inflammation.
Clinical Potential: These findings position Hp as a strong candidate for an objective diagnostic and monitoring tool.
Serum Amyloid A (SAA):
Not Detected: SAA was below the detection limit of the assay (<0.4 mg/L) in all healthy cats and in 10 out of the 11 cats with gingivitis.
Limited Utility: This result suggests that SAA is not a sensitive indicator of the systemic inflammatory response in uncomplicated gingivitis and is unlikely to be a useful biomarker for this disease stage.
Clinical Implications for Veterinarians:
This study demonstrates that even localized, uncomplicated gingivitis can trigger a measurable systemic acute-phase response in cats. For practitioners, this suggests:
Quantitative Support: Haptoglobin measurement could provide an objective data point to support clinical diagnosis and client communication, moving beyond subjective visual assessment alone.
Monitoring Potential: While further research is needed, Hp holds promise for monitoring a patient's response to dental treatment and periodontal therapy over time.
Biomarker Selection: SAA is not recommended for evaluating cats with gingivitis, directing focus toward more responsive proteins like Hp.
Context and Limitations:
This research builds on previous work that identified APP elevations in more severe conditions like feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), but is the first to focus specifically on uncomplicated gingivitis. The authors note the small sample size as a limitation and emphasize the need for larger studies to validate these findings and establish clinical reference intervals.
Conclusion:
This preliminary study successfully identifies serum haptoglobin as a reactive and clinically correlated acute-phase protein in feline gingivitis. It offers a compelling rationale for further investigation into Hp's role as a practical biomarker to enhance diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of dental health in our feline patients.
Read full study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12433242/
