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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2021; 35(6); 2891-2896; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16295

Symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in healthy neonatal foals and mares.

Abstract: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a renal biomarker correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Objective: Describe changes in SDMA in clinically healthy foals and their mares during the first month postfoaling. Methods: Convenience sampling of healthy periparturient Thoroughbred mares and their full-term foals from a population of client-owned horses. Methods: Serum and EDTA whole blood samples were collected from mares in their last month of pregnancy and then from mares and foals at approximately <12 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, and 30 days postbirth. Samples were processed at a commercial reference laboratory for CBC and serum biochemistry, including SDMA concentrations. Results: A total of 125 foals and 104 mares were included. Upper limits for SDMA concentrations in foals were above the adult horse reference interval for the first 20 or more days of life. Median SDMA concentrations decreased from 70 μg/dL (range, 7-100 μg/dL) to 18 μg/dL (range, 6-27 μg/dL) during the first 3 to 4 weeks of life. At birth, the SDMA concentration reference range was established as 0 to 100 μg/dL (upper limit of the assay); 0 to 85 μg/dL for 1 to 4 days old, 0 to 36 μg/dL for 5 to 10 days old, and 0 to 24 μg/dL for 20 to 30 days old. The upper reference limits for SDMA concentrations in mares did not differ from the general reference interval for adult horses. No correlation was identified between mare and foal SDMA concentrations (ρ = .06, P = .58). Conclusions: Foal SDMA concentrations remained higher than the upper limit of the adult reference range and foals require a different reference range dependent on age.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2021-11-05 PubMed ID: 34738665PubMed Central: PMC8692187DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16295Google 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.

The research article presents a study on the changes in concentrations of a renal biomarker (SDMA) in healthy newborn foals and their mares during the first month after birth. The study concludes that newborn foals’ SDMA concentrations are significantly higher than their mothers’ throughout this period, suggesting that foals require a different, age-dependent SDMA reference range.

Study Methods

  • The primary objective of the research was to study the changes occurring in SDMA concentrations in healthy foals and their mares within the first month postfoaling. SDMA is a renal biomarker linked to the glomerular filtration rate, which indicates the functional capacity of the kidneys.
  • A convenience sampling method was used, involving healthy periparturient Thoroughbred mares, in the last month of their pregnancies, and their full-term foals. The subjects were sourced from a population of client-owned horses.
  • Throughout the study period, samples of serum and EDTA whole blood were collected from the mares and foals at specific intervals – less than 12 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, and 30 days postbirth.
  • These samples were then processed at a commercial reference laboratory for complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry, specifically monitoring the SDMA concentrations.

Study Results

  • The study included a total of 125 foals and their 104 respective mares.
  • It was observed that the upper limits of SDMA concentrations in the foals significantly surpassed the adult horse reference interval for the initial 20 days or more after birth.
  • Median SDMA concentrations within the foals dropped from around 70 μg/dL (range, 7-100 μg/dL) to approximately 18 μg/dL (range, 6-27 μg/dL) over the first 3 to 4 weeks of life.
  • The study also established different reference ranges of SDMA concentration based on the age of the foal, while the upper reference limits for SDMA concentrations in mares did not differ from the general adult range.
  • Importantly, there was no correlation found between the SDMA concentrations of the mares and those of their foals, signifying that the renal functions in both groups operate independently of each other.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that the SDMA concentrations in foals stayed above the adult reference range’s upper limit throughout the first month after birth. This shows that newborn foals require a separate SDMA reference range, dependent on their age.

Cite This Article

APA
Bozorgmanesh R, Thornton J, Snyder J, Fletcher C, Mack R, Coyne M, Murphy R, Hegarty E, Slovis N. (2021). Symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in healthy neonatal foals and mares. J Vet Intern Med, 35(6), 2891-2896. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16295

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 6
Pages: 2891-2896

Researcher Affiliations

Bozorgmanesh, Rana
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Thornton, Jessica
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Snyder, Jackie
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Fletcher, Caitlin
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Mack, Rebekah
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Westbrook, Maine, USA.
Coyne, Michael
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Westbrook, Maine, USA.
Murphy, Rachel
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Westbrook, Maine, USA.
Hegarty, Evan
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Westbrook, Maine, USA.
Slovis, Nathan
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Biomarkers
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Horses
  • Parturition
  • Pregnancy

Grant Funding

  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc

Conflict of Interest Statement

Rebecca Mack, Michael Coyne, Rachel Murphy, Evan Hegarty have an affiliation with the commercial funders of this research as current employees of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc (https://www.idexx.com/en/about-idexx/).

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Galen GV, Olsen E, Siwinska N. Biomarkers of Kidney Disease in Horses: A Review of the Current Literature. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 5;12(19).
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  2. Villalba-Orero M, Gómez CA, Valero-Gónzalez M, Venegas N, Criado G, Martín-Cuervo M. Blood parameters in neonatal foal and colostrum quality as possible early markers for increased risk of developing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1654052.
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  3. Camacho BE, Mitman SL, Foster DM, Halleran J. Validation of a reference interval for symmetric dimethylarginine in healthy goats and its comparison to values in goats with obstructive urolithiasis. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2807-2813.
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