Routine kidney variables, glomerular filtration rate and urinary cystatin C in cats with diabetes mellitus, cats with chronic kidney disease and healthy cats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a frequent and serious complication in human diabetic patients, but data are limited in cats. This study was undertaken to assess whether diabetic cats are susceptible to DKD.

METHODS:

Kidney function was compared between 36 cats with diabetes mellitus (DM), 10 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 10 age-matched healthy cats by measuring routine kidney variables (serum creatinine [sCreat], serum urea [sUrea], urine specific gravity [USG], urinary protein:creatinine ratio [UPC]), urinary cystatin C:creatinine ratio and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Urinary cystatin C (uCysC) was measured with a human particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay, validated to measure feline cystatin C, in all but two diabetic cats. GFR was evaluated by exo-iohexol clearance in 17 diabetic cats, all cats with CKD and all healthy cats.

RESULTS:

Diabetic cats had significantly (mean ± SD) lower sCreat (123 ± 38 vs 243 ± 80 µmol/l), sUrea (11 ± 3 vs 18 ± 7 mmol/l) and urinary cystatin C:creatinine ratio (6 ± 31 vs 173 ± 242 mg/mol), and a significantly higher USG (1.033 ± 0.012 vs 1.018 ± 0.006) and GFR (2.0 ± 0.7 vs 0.8 ± 0.3 ml/min/kg) compared with cats with CKD. Compared with healthy cats, diabetic cats only had significantly lower USG (1.033 ± 0.012 vs 1.046 ± 0.008). Proteinuria (UPC >0.4) was present in 39% of diabetic cats, in 30% of cats with CKD and in none of the healthy cats. However, the UPC did not differ statistically between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

Based on evaluation of routine kidney variables, GFR and uCysC as a tubular marker at a single time point, a major impact of feline DM on kidney function could not be demonstrated.

• Authors: Dominique Paepe, Liesbeth Fe Ghys, Pascale Smets, Hervé P Lefebvre, Siska Croubels, Sylvie Daminet
• Journal: Journal of feline medicine and surgery (J Feline Med Surg) Vol. 17 Issue 10 Pg. 880-8 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1532-2750 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25425599 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © ISFM and AAFP 2014.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Cystatin C
• Creatinine

Topics

• Animals
• Biomarkers (blood, urine)
• Blood Urea Nitrogen
• Cat Diseases (blood, urine)
• Cats
• Creatinine (blood)
• Cystatin C (urine)
• Diabetes Mellitus (veterinary)
• Glomerular Filtration Rate
• Kidney Function Tests (veterinary)
• Reference Values
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic (veterinary)