Open AccessRenal scintigraphy as an early and efficient method for detecting loss of renal function in a cat
Author(s) -
Gabriela da Cruz Schaefer,
Mariana M Brose,
José Ricardo Herrera Becerra,
F. P. S. Mello,
Inácio Bernhardt Rovaris,
Eduardo Herz Berdichevski,
Márcio Poletto Ferreira,
Fernanda Vieira Amorim da Costa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of feline medicine and surgery open reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.108
H-Index - 2
ISSN - 2055-1169
DOI - 10.1177/20551169211062551
Subject(s) - medicine , kidney , renal function , scintigraphy , urology , asymptomatic , urinalysis , creatinine , radiology , urine
Case summary A 6-year-old mixed-breed male cat was evaluated for a routine annual health assessment. No alterations on physical examination were observed other than mild pain on palpation of the right kidney. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry (including symmetric dimethylarginine), urinalysis and urine protein:creatinine ratio were within the reference intervals for the species. Abdominal ultrasonography showed the presence of asymmetric kidneys, decreased corticomedullary definition, presence of a cyst on the left kidney and moderate renal pelvis dilatation on the right kidney. Dynamic renal scintigraphy (technetium [ 99m Tc]-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) revealed a single functioning kidney on the left. Static renal scintigraphy ( 99m Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid) exhibited renal activity practically restricted to the left kidney (relative uptake was 99% for the left kidney and 1% for the right kidney). Results of renal scintigraphy showed that the left kidney was compensating for the lack of function of the right one. GFR was 2.17 ml/min/kg, which is considered subclinical renal insufficiency and is in accordance with the case, as the cat was asymptomatic and did not present alterations in laboratory parameters.Relevance and novel information Renal scintigraphy was an important tool to determine the loss of renal function in one of the kidneys and mild reduction of global GFR. In this case report, renal scintigraphy proved to be more sensitive in the assessment of renal function than other tests routinely performed.