title: Biologic variability of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in adult healthy cats.
abstract: Objectives The biologic variability of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and its impact on diagnostic utility is unknown in healthy cats and those with cardiac disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the biologic variation of NT-proBNP within-day and week-to-week in healthy adult cats. Methods Adult cats were prospectively evaluated by complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry, total thyroxine, echocardiography, electrocardiography and blood pressure, to exclude underlying systemic or cardiac disease. Adult healthy cats were enrolled and blood samples were obtained at 11 time points over a 6 week period (0, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 10 h and at weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6). The intra-individual (coefficient of variation [CVI]) biologic variation along with index of individuality and reference change values (RCVs) were calculated. Univariate models were analyzed and included comparison of the six different time points for both daily and weekly samples. This was followed by a Tukey's post-hoc adjustment, with a P value of <0.05 being significant. Results The median daily and weekly CVIfor the population were 13.1% (range 0-28.7%) and 21.2% (range 3.9-68.1%), respectively. The index of individuality was 0.99 and 1 for daily and weekly samples, respectively. The median daily and weekly RCVs for the population were 39.8% (range 17.0-80.5%) and 60.5% (range 20.1-187.8%), respectively. Conclusions and relevance This study demonstrates high individual variability for NT-proBNP concentrations in a population of adult healthy cats. Further research is warranted to evaluate NT-proBNP variability, particularly how serial measurements of NT-proBNP may be used in the diagnosis and management of cats with cardiac disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Autumn N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Amara H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Brandy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: 2 Lamb Consulting, West Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohannon
authors.affiliation: 3 IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Jancy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanscom
authors.affiliation: 3 IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Celine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mainville
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain