Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to detect albumin in urine of cats with kidney disease
By Hanzlicek, Andrew S et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of urine dipstick, sulfosalicylic acid, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio and a feline-specific immunoassay for detection of albuminuria in cats with chronic kidney disease.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 37 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were tested to find the best way to detect albumin in their urine, which can indicate kidney problems. Researchers compared several tests, including a urine dipstick and a specific immunoassay, to see which was most effective. They found that the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) test was the best option for detecting albuminuria, providing useful information regardless of whether the result was positive or negative. If a cat shows signs of kidney issues, the UPC test can help your vet determine the best course of action.
Abstract
The performance of the urine dipstick, sulfosalicylic acid (SSA), and urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) tests for the detection of albuminuria was assessed in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Two hundred and thirty-nine urine samples from 37 cats with CKD were used. Test results were dichotomized as either positive or negative, compared with those for the feline-specific rapid urine albumin immunoassay and test performance variables calculated for each test. A positive urine dipstick (≥ trace) and positive SSA (≥ 5 mg/dl), positive SSA alone or ≥ 2+ urine dipstick alone were indicative of albuminuria. In these cases, protein quantification would be warranted if proteinuria/albuminuria is persistent. In the case of a negative urine dipstick result the addition of the SSA added little diagnostic value. Of the tests investigated, the single best test for the detection of albuminuria was the UP/C (≥ 0.2) in which either a negative or positive test result provided useful information.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22802340/