Inflammatory and Redox Responses During Medical Treatment of Open-Cervix Pyometra in Female Dogs: A Prospective Study

The present study aimed to evaluate blood redox status and acute phase protein profile throughout two pharmacological treatment protocols for pyometra bitches, employing aglepristone either as a monotherapy or in combination with prostaglandin. A prospective study was conducted in 10 open-cervix pyometra bitches assigned to two groups: aglepristone (n = 5; subcutaneous injections of aglepristone on days 1, 2, and 8 after diagnosis) and aglepristone + prostaglandin (n = 5, aglepristone coupled with daily injections of cloprostenol from days 1 to 7). Blood samples were collected daily for the liver profile (alanine aminotransferase—ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin), acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein-CRP, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid-A), and redox analysis antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidative stress (TBARS), and protein oxidation. In the aglepristone group, there was increase in albumin concentration and SOD, while protein oxidation and GSH decreased progressively throughout treatment. The aglepristone + prostaglandin group had lower ALT levels but higher lipid peroxidation, GPx, and CRP. In conclusion, the combined use of prostaglandin modified the profile of oxidative markers, antioxidant enzymes, and C-reactive protein, thereby preventing the assessment of treatment efficacy. Conversely, albumin concentration proved a sensitive marker of therapeutic effectiveness in both treatment protocols for pyometra bitches.