Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Why vets test urine protein in cats with kidney disease
By Maria Ana Fidalgo et al.·Published in Animals·2022·ACIVET/Hospital Escolar Veterinário, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Urinary Protein/Creatinine Ratio in Feline Medicine: Reasons to Perform It and Its Role in Clinical Practice—A Retrospective Study
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 140 cats was evaluated for kidney health using a test called the urinary protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR). This test helps veterinarians diagnose and monitor chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results showed that 40% of the cats had high protein levels in their urine, which is linked to worse outcomes over time. Cats with severe proteinuria had a significantly higher risk of death within a year. The study highlighted that while UPCR is important for assessing kidney issues, it doesn't always match up with other urine tests.
People also search for: cat kidney disease symptoms · protein in cat urine treatment · chronic kidney disease in cats prognosis
Abstract
This study aimed at understanding the reasons veterinarians conduct a urinary protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) in cats, correlating it with signalment, dipstick proteinuria tests, and urine specific gravity (USG) and assessing its role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis and monitoring. A retrospective study was conducted, including medical data from cats consulted between 2016 and 2018 in a veterinary teaching hospital and submitted to at least one UPCR measurement. A total of 140 cats were included: 35% non-proteinuric (UPCR < 0.2), 25% borderline proteinuric (0.2 < UPCR < 0.4), and 40% overtly proteinuric (UPCR > 0.4). In contrast to other studies, there was no association between UPCR and male reproductive status. UPCR was mainly requested for CKD diagnosis and monitoring. Correlation between UPCR and combined results from dipstick tests and USG was low and inconsistent. Proteinuric CKD cats had a worse outcome at both 6 (odds ratio (OR 4.04) and 12 months (OR 4.36)), and this finding was more pronounced for severely proteinuric cases in which the OR for death was 4.36 and 6.00 at 6 and at 12 months, respectively. In addition to reinforcing the negative prognostic value of proteinuria, this study stresses the low and the inconsistent agreement between UPCR and the combined results of dipstick tests and USG in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121575