Clinical Chemistries: Kidney Assays

Question 1

What are the four blood kidney assays that are run?

Answer 1

Blood Urea Nitrogen
Creatinine
Symmetric dimethylarginine
Uric Acid (birds)

Question 2

What is the urine kidney assay?

Answer 2

Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio

Question 3

What are the functions of the urinary system?

Answer 3

Eliminates waste products in the urine
Produces and affected by hormones
Maintains blood homeostasis

Question 4

How does the urinary system maintain blood homeostasis?

Answer 4

Regulates blood pH, blood volume, blood pressure, and electrolytes

Question 5

What is reabsorbed into the body?

Answer 5

100% glucose
80% water
70% potassium
50% urea

Question 6

Where does reabsorption occur?

Answer 6

The proximal convoluted tubule

Question 7

What is secreted into the urine?

Answer 7

Hydrogen

Bicarbonate

Question 8

Where does secretion occur?

Answer 8

The distal convoluted tubule

Question 9

What does BUN stand for?

Answer 9

Blood Urea Nitrogen

Question 10

What is Urea?

Answer 10

The end product of protein metabolism

Question 11

What is filtered through the glomerulus into the renal tubules?

Answer 11

Urea

Question 12

What happens if the kidney is not functioning normally?

Answer 12

Urea is not eliminated

High BUN and the animal feels sick

Question 13

What are the other causes of high BUN?

Answer 13

High protein diet
Strenuous exercise
Dehydration

Question 14

How does a high protein diet cause high BUN?

Answer 14

An increase in protein metabolism leads to high production of urea

Question 15

How does strenuous exercise cause high BUN?

Answer 15

An increase in muscle break-down increases urea

Question 16

How does dehydration cause high BUN?

Answer 16

The kidneys are conserving water leading to retention of urea

Question 17

Where is Creatinine formed from?

Answer 17

The creatine in skeletal muscle

Question 18

What is creatinine?

Answer 18

The breakdown product of muscle metabolism

Question 19

What happens if the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases?

Answer 19

Creatinine levels will increase because it is normally filtered through the glomerulus

Question 20

What are the advantages of the BUN and Creatinine tests?

Answer 20

Are the kidneys working normally?
Is the kidney disease progressive?
Is the treatment of kidney disease working?

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of the BUN and Creatinine test?

Answer 21

They are not a sensitive test
Need 75% kidney damaged before you see an increase
GFR can be 1/4 of the normal rate before an increase

Question 22

How many dogs are diagnosed with kidney disease?

Answer 22

1 in 285

Question 23

How many cats are diagnosed with kidney disease?

Answer 23

1 in 43

Question 24

What is an increase in BUN and Creatinine called?

Answer 24

Azotemia

Question 25

What are the clinical signs of kidney disease?

Answer 25

``` PU/PD Decreased appetite Weight loss Bad breath Vomiting and diarrhea Sore mouth Weakness Lethargy ```

Question 26

What is the newer kidney function test?

Answer 26

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA)

Question 27

What does SDMA detect?

Answer 27

The loss of renal function at as little as 25% | Usually around 40%

Question 28

Is the BUN/Creatinine ratio useful in diagnosing kidney disease?

Answer 28

No, because both have a wide range of intervals | Useful when assessing patient status during treatments

Question 29

Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio in healthy animals

Answer 29

The level of protein and creatinine excreted into urine are constant and nearly equal

Question 30

What happens if there is a problem with the glomerulus?

Answer 30

Proteins leak

Question 31

What is the degree of proteinuria directly related to?

Answer 31

The degree of renal failure

Question 32

What is the normal Urine protein/creatinine ratio in healthy dogs

Answer 32

Less than 1

Question 33

What is the urine protein/creatinine ratio in prerenal or functional origin?

Answer 33

Between 1 and 5

Question 34

What is the urine protein/creatinine ratio for renal disease?

Answer 34

Greater than 5