Ultrasonographic kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter for the diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease: A preliminary study

Research (Published online: 27-05-2023)

26. Ultrasonographic kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter for the diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease: A preliminary study

Kotchapol Jaturanratsamee, Nan Choisunirachon, Kumpanart Soontornvipart, Damri Darawiroj, Naparee Srisowanna, and Chutimon Thanaboonnipat

Veterinary World, 16(5): 1114-1121

Kotchapol Jaturanratsamee: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Nan Choisunirachon: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Kumpanart Soontornvipart: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Damri Darawiroj: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Naparee Srisowanna: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Chutimon Thanaboonnipat: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1114-1121

Article history: Received: 23-01-2023, Accepted: 27-04-2023, Published online: 27-05-2023

Corresponding authors: Chutimon Thanaboonnipat

E-mail: chutimon.th@chula.ac.th

Citation: Jaturanratsamee K, Choisunirachon N, Soontornvipart K, Darawiroj D, Srisowanna N, and Thanaboonnipat C (2023) Ultrasonographic kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter for diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease: A preliminary study, Veterinary World, 16(5): 1114-1121.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most important diseases in cats. This study aimed to compare the ultrasonographic kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter (K/AO) ratio between healthy and CKD cats and investigate the correlation between K/AO and blood results.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen healthy cats and 15 CKD cats were included in this clinically prospective study. All cats were evaluated for radiographic and ultrasonographic K, radiographic K-to-second lumbar length ratio (K/L2), and K/AO, indirect systolic blood pressure and plasma creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA).

Results: The radiographic and ultrasonographic kidney lengths of CKD were significantly shorter than those of healthy cats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). The average K/L2 and K/AO were significantly lower in CKD than in healthy cats (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). The K/AO had a strong negative correlation with plasma Cr (r = −0.7682, p < 0.0001), BUN (r = −0.6175, p < 0.001), and SDMA (r = −0.589, p < 0.001). However, K/L2 had a moderate negative correlation with plasma Cr (r = −0.5866, p < 0.001), BUN (r = −0.4884, p < 0.01), and SDMA (r = −0.5404, p < 0.01). The optimal cutoff value of K/AO (<10.71) had higher sensitivity and specificity than K/L2 for identifying feline CKD.

Conclusion: Kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter could be a better and more promising parameter than the K/L2 ratio for evaluating kidney size in cats with CKD.

Keywords: cats, chronic kidney disease, kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter, renal length, ultrasonography.