Systemic oxidative stress, selected nonenzymatic exogenous and endogenous antioxidants, and hematologic and biochemical alterations in bitches with pyometra.

Canine pyometra causes significant systemic oxidative stress, but circulating nonenzymatic antioxidants remain largely unchanged.

This prospective case-control study evaluated systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant status in 17 bitches with pyometra compared to 16 healthy controls. Oxidative stress biomarkers were significantly elevated in pyometra cases, with malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) both markedly increased (Hedges' g = 1.08 and 1.27, respectively), indicating clinically meaningful effect sizes. Notably, this study is the first to simultaneously assess exogenous nonenzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and retinol) in canine pyometra, finding these circulating antioxidants remained largely unchanged between groups. Glutathione (GSH) showed a trend toward elevation in pyometra cases, suggesting a compensatory thiol-based antioxidant response rather than depletion. Hematobiochemical findings corroborated the expected inflammatory picture: leukocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, mild anemia (decreased erythrocyte counts and hematocrit), and elevated ALP, ALT, and cholesterol. These hepatic enzyme elevations may reflect hepatic involvement secondary to systemic inflammation and bacteremia. The authors conclude that canine pyometra induces systemic oxidative stress, but antioxidant regulation is more complex than straightforward depletion. The relatively small sample size and absence of disease-severity stratification or tissue-level antioxidant assessment are acknowledged limitations. Future research incorporating severity grading (open vs. closed cervix) and tissue-level enzymatic antioxidant evaluation would strengthen understanding of the oxidative stress response in this common reproductive emergency.

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