The veterinary journal
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The veterinary journal · Dec 2017
Evaluation of the delta neutrophil index from an automated blood cell analyser in septic dogs.
Immature granulocytes (IG) are a marker of severe inflammatory states in human beings and animals, and have been linked to a diagnosis of sepsis and poor prognosis. The delta neutrophil index (DNI), automatically calculated by a haematological analyser, provides an estimate of circulating IG. In particular, an increased DNI value has been associated with the severity of sepsis, and mortality, in critically ill human beings. ⋯ Septic dogs with a DNI above the RI had significantly higher frequencies of IG and toxic neutrophil changes on manual blood smear evaluation (P=0.03 and P<0.001, respectively). The DNI had a fair performance in identifying dogs with sepsis in this population and predicted septic shock. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate DNI measurement in dogs and to test its clinical utility.