Evaluation of the association between microalbuminuria and the urine albumin-creatinine ratio and systemic disease in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate semiquantitative and quantitative assays for microalbuminuria and determination of the urine albumin-creatinine (UAC) ratio in detection of systemic disease in dogs without overt proteinuria.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
408 dogs.


METHODS
Urine samples that had been obtained from dogs for which a complete medical record was available and in which results of a dipstick test for urine protein were negative were evaluated. Urine protein-creatinine ratios (cutoff values, 0.5 and 0.1), semiquantitative and quantitative microalbuminuria values (cutoff value, 1 mg/dL), and UAC ratios (cutoff values, 100 and 200 mg/g) were determined. Clinical diagnoses rendered within 3 months of enrollment in the study were recorded. Sensitivity and specificity were determined with disease status serving as the standard. Associations with clinical diagnosis, sex, age, BUN and serum creatinine concentrations, blood pressure, results of bacterial culture of urine, temperature, pyuria, hematuria, and bacteriuria were evaluated by use of logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
48 dogs were healthy, and 360 had at least 1 disease. Significant associations were detected between age, presence of disease, presence of neoplastic disease, BUN and serum creatinine concentrations, and hematuria and results of 1 or both of the microalbuminuria assays.


CONCLUSIONS
Microalbuminuria was associated with underlying disease. The sensitivity and specificity of the semiquantitative microalbuminuria test for detection of systemic disease were superior to those of other tests. Microalbuminuria testing in conjunction with other screening procedures may increase diagnosis of subclinical disease, but a prospective study in which the predictive values of screening tests are evaluated, with and without microalbuminuria determination, is needed.
Whittemore
Jacqueline C
JC
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Gill
Virginia L
VL
Jensen
Wayne A
WA
Radecki
Steven V
SV
Lappin
Michael R
MR
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000662:veterinary; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000662:veterinary; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary
D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine