Serum iron levels as a biomarker for monitoring fracture healing in dogs: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Iron is an important mineral involved in various physiological processes and can be used as a biomarker, since its serum concentration changes during the inflammatory response. Eight crossbreed dogs with closed fractures in the antebrachium bone were included in the study. The fracture was treated with a closed reduction method and blood samples were taken initially at 0 h and subsequently at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 45 days. Iron, ferritin, hepcidin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C reactive protein (CRP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) as well as routine hemogram and biochemistry analyses were performed in the blood samples taken. It was determined that the decrease in serum Fe levels reversed as the process progressed even though hepcidin, ferritin, osteocalcin, BALP, and TNF-α levels increased at the beginning of the healing process. As a result, it can be suggested that the analysis of serum Fe levels may be a useful biomarker in monitoring the fracture healing process.