CD11b as a biomarker for canine systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis

The aim of this study is to investigate neutrophil activation markers among canine ICU (intensive care unit) control, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. These markers include WBC (white blood cells), platelets counts, blood film examination (neutrophilic band to segmentation ratio and neutrophilic degenerative changes), and flow cytometric analysis (CD11b expression of neutrophils). As a result, the mean CD11b fluorescence intensity of neutrophils and the neutrophilic degenerative change scores were both significantly higher in sepsis group (P < 0.05). In addition, mortality was also found to be correlated with the up-regulation of CD11b expression in circulating neutrophils. This study demonstrates that CD11b expression of neutrophils could be more a reliable biomarker to predict prognosis in ICU patients than traditional blood film examination according to this study.