Use of carbamylated hemoglobin concentration to differentiate acute from chronic renal failure in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine usefulness of carbamylated hemoglobin (CarHb) concentration for differentiation of acute renal failure (ARF) from chronic renal failure (CRF) in dogs.


METHODS
Samples from dogs with ARF or CRF and from nonazotemic control dogs.


METHODS
CarHb concentration was determined in heparinized blood samples by measuring the micrograms of valine hydantoin (VH) per gram of hemoglobin (Hb), using a high-performance liquid chromatography assay, in which carbamyl valine is converted to VH via acid hydrolysis.


RESULTS
CarHb concentration was significantly higher in dogs with ARF and CRF, compared with values in control dogs (ARF vs control, P < 0.05; CRF vs control, P < 0.001). Furthermore, CarHb concentration was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in dogs with CRF, compared with that in dogs with ARF. Carbamylated hemoglobin concentration did not correlate with serum urea nitrogen or creatinine concentration. Using a cutoff value of 100 micrograms of VH/g of Hb, the sensitivity and specificity of CarHb concentration for differentiating ARF from CRF was 96.1 and 84.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CarHb concentration was useful in the differentiation of ARF from CRF in the dogs of this study.


CONCLUSIONS
CarHb concentration may be used to increase the accuracy of identifying ARF, so that early, aggressive management can be instituted, thereby increasing the chance of recovery.
Vaden
S L
SL
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
Gookin
J
J
Trogdon
M
M
Langston
C E
CE
Levine
J
J
Cowgill
L D
LD
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
C022017:hemoglobin A, carbamylated; D014508:Urea; D006441:Hemoglobin A; D003404:Creatinine; D009584:Nitrogen