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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 396; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02621-y

Serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration in healthy horses and horses with acute kidney injury.

Abstract: There are limited options to diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI) in horses. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is routinely used in human and small animal medicine. The aim of this study was to assess serum SDMA concentrations in healthy horses and horses with AKI. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of: 1) age, 2) sex, 3) body weight and 4) serum creatinine and urea levels on serum SDMA concentrations. Fifty-three healthy horses, including 17 foals (2-6 months of age) and 36 adult horses (3-29 years of age), and 23 horses with AKI were included in the study based on history, physical examination, blood analysis, urinalysis and an ultrasonographic examination of the urinary tract. Serum SDMA concentrations were measured using a non-species specific commercial ELISA test. Results: In healthy adult horses, the value of SDMA was 0.53 ± 0.14 μmol/L. The value was higher in foals (1.5 ± 0.4 μmol/L, P < 0.001). Horses with AKI had significantly higher concentrations of SDMA compared to healthy horses (1.76 ± 1.05 μmol/L, P < 0.001). In the healthy adult horses, there was no association of sex, age or body weight on SDMA. However, a significant positive relationship was found between serum creatinine and SDMA concentrations. Conclusions: Healthy adult horses had SDMA values similar to those of other species. Foals had higher SDMA values. Therefore, different reference values should be created for them. The study confirmed an increased SDMA in horses with AKI. This, as well as the low influence of extrarenal factors on the SDMA values, may confirm its usefulness in the diagnosis of kidney dysfunction. Higher SDMA values may also indicate a more advanced degree of kidney dysfunction. Further research is required to determine whether SDMA could be used to detect kidney dysfunction in the asymptomatic stage of AKI.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-20 PubMed ID: 33081772PubMed Central: PMC7576750DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02621-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the utility of the serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentration for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) in horses, contrasting healthy horses against horses with AKI and considering the influence of variables like age, sex, body weight, and serum creatinine and urea levels.

Research Scope and Methodology

  • The research involves a comparison of serum SDMA concentrations in healthy horses and horses diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI).
  • Participants included 53 healthy horses (17 of which were foals aged between 2-6 months, the rest being adult horses aged between 3-29 years) as well as 23 horses already diagnosed with AKI.
  • The study also assessed the relevance of different variables like age, sex, body weight, and levels of serum creatinine and urea on the serum SDMA concentrations.
  • The horses’ health conditions were determined through detailed history, physical examination, blood analysis, urinalysis, and an ultrasonographic examination of the urinary tract.
  • A non-species specific commercial ELISA test was used to measure serum SDMA concentrations.

Key Findings

  • In healthy adult horses, the average serum SDMA concentration was found to be 0.53 ± 0.14 μmol/L, whereas in foals it was significantly higher, averaging at 1.5 ± 0.4 μmol/L. It was also established that horses with AKI had significantly higher SDMA concentrations (approximately 1.76 ± 1.05 μmol/L) than healthy horses.
  • Among the healthy adult horses, the study found no particular correlation between serum SDMA level and the variables including sex, age, and bodyweight. But a clear positive relationship was observed between serum creatinine and SDMA concentrations.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The research concluded that healthy adult horses had serum SDMA concentrations akin to those seen in other species, suggesting a basic standard for healthy SDMA levels. However, the noticeably higher SDMA values in foals indicated a need for different reference values for them.
  • The study also confirmed a rise in SDMA concentrations in horses diagnosed with AKI, showing its potential to be an effective marker for kidney dysfunction.
  • The minimal influence of extrarenal factors on serum SDMA levels also reinforces its precision in diagnosing kidney dysfunction.
  • The study suggests that a higher SDMA concentration could possibly indicate a more severe degree of renal impairment. However, more research is needed to determine whether SDMA levels could also provide early detection of kidney dysfunction before symptoms of AKI become apparent.

Cite This Article

APA
Siwinska N, Zak A, Slowikowska M, Niedzwiedz A, Paslawska U. (2020). Serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration in healthy horses and horses with acute kidney injury. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 396. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02621-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 396
PII: 396

Researcher Affiliations

Siwinska, Natalia
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland. natalia.siwinska@upwr.edu.pl.
Zak, Agnieszka
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Slowikowska, Malwina
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Niedzwiedz, Artur
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Paslawska, Urszula
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland.
  • Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun ul, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Torun, Torun, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / blood
  • Acute Kidney Injury / diagnosis
  • Acute Kidney Injury / veterinary
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / blood
  • Biomarkers
  • Body Weight
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Reference Values
  • Urea / blood

Grant Funding

  • D220/0002/18 / Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy we Wrocu0142awiu (PL)

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest. None of the aforementioned companies had any involvement, direct or indirect, in the development of the manuscript and the works reflects the opinions solely of the authors.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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  4. Siwinska N, Zak A, Paslawska U. Detecting acute kidney injury in horses by measuring the concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine in serum. Acta Vet Scand 2021 Jan 15;63(1):3.
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