Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urine glutathione peroxidase 4 levels in cats with chronic kidney
By Hsu, Wei-Li et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of urine glutathione peroxidase 4 in cats with chronic kidney disease.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) had their urine tested for a specific enzyme called glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) to see if it could help track the disease's severity. The study found that cats with more advanced CKD had higher levels of this enzyme in their urine compared to healthy cats and those in early stages of CKD. Additionally, higher levels of urine GPX4 were linked to other health issues like protein in the urine and anemia. This suggests that measuring urine GPX4 could be a useful way for veterinarians to monitor kidney health and disease progression in cats with CKD.
People also search for: cat chronic kidney disease symptoms · cat kidney disease treatment · urine test for cat kidney health
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Ferroptosis is a distinct form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation that damages cellular membranes and leads to the end of a cell's life. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the only enzyme capable of the reduction of lipid peroxidation products within cells, is a key regulator of this process. AIMS: The role of GPX4 in feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been previously investigated. This study aims to determine whether urine GPX4 levels are associated with CKD severity in cats and to assess their potential as a progression biomarker. METHODS: Urine GPX4 levels were measured using a commercial feline ELISA kit. The urine-GPX4-to-creatinine ratio (UGCR) was calculated. Fifteen healthy cats, 61 cats with CKD, and six cats with acute-on-chronic kidney disease (ACKD) were included in the study. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (urine GPX4, median [IQR]: 25.21 [18.99-26.91]; UGCR: 0.072 [0.057-0.101] × 10) and the early-stage CKD group (urine GPX4: 24.31 [22.00-24.07]; UGCR: 0.134 [0.070-0.260] × 10), cats with late-stage CKD showed significantly higher levels of urine GPX4 (26.89 [25.11-31.66]; = 0.011) and UGCR values (0.271 [0.197-0.457] × 10; < 0.001). Within the CKD subgroups, UGCR was significantly higher in cats with proteinuria, hypertension, anemia, and those receiving iron supplementation (all < 0.003). Serum creatinine levels and WBC counts were identified as independent variables that were correlated with UGCR. Cats in the CKD progression group had higher UGCR than non-progressors, and an elevated UGCR was associated with an increased risk of CKD progression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.20-2.54; = 0.003). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: UGCR increased with the severity of CKD and was significantly associated with serum creatinine concentration and disease progression. Urine GPX4 may thus serve as a novel biomarker for monitoring renal deterioration and progression in cats with CKD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41613773/