New kidney Function Test

[dottiesyrky]

I have just had a blood chem test on my dog who had a UTI. There was a new ( to me anyway!) test, SDMA. It is said to detect kidney function problems earlier than the usual creatinine indicator. The numbers have to be evaluated together with the creatinine and urine tests for definitive diagnosis. I was intrigued with this 'early warning' kidney finction test as it might enable us to treat or slow down the onset of kidney failure. Having lost my previous Yorkie suddenly to this horrible disease I might have saved her had I known she was sick earlier.
I have only read a little on this so far, so please excuse the limited info.

[Wylie's Mom]

What wonderful news for being able to address kidney issues earlier - thanks for posting this!

[matese]

Thank you for this information.

[ladyjane]

I have not heard of this test, so just googled it....
Idexx is going to add it to routine testing which is great. Sometimes the new and/or specific tests cost more money.

https://www.idexx.com/files/small-an...-test-sdma.pdf

[dottiesyrky]

Thank for the info link.
As far as I know it was just included with the other tests and I didn't think it cost more. It was not ordered by the vet as a specific test.

[lisaly]

Thank you for this. Detecting kidney disease earlier is really important since before this, by the time it was detected, there was 75% loss of kidney functioning.

[dottiesyrky]

Yes Lisa, and sadly by then the outcome is not good. Those who have lost a dog to kidney disease well know the horror of the 75% rule! I had no idea my dog was sick until this was diagnosed. Oh that I had known earlier!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

Thank for the info link.
As far as I know it was just included with the other tests and I didn't think it cost more. It was not ordered by the vet as a specific test.

The link may be old, and they might be on the lab work now, but I have not seen it. I will definitely ask my vet about it though...interesting. Thank you for posting this.

[SharonSnowbird]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

I have just had a blood chem test on my dog who had a UTI. There was a new ( to me anyway!) test, SDMA. It is said to detect kidney function problems earlier than the usual creatinine indicator. The numbers have to be evaluated together with the creatinine and urine tests for definitive diagnosis. I was intrigued with this 'early warning' kidney finction test as it might enable us to treat or slow down the onset of kidney failure. Having lost my previous Yorkie suddenly to this horrible disease I might have saved her had I known she was sick earlier.
I have only read a little on this so far, so please excuse the limited info.

Dottiesyrky, So very sorry to hear that you also lost a pup to Kidney failure. Two months before Chanel died, I thought she was perfectly healthy. She went from 6.2 pounds down to 3.4 in about a month. She wouldn't eat anything. Thanks for posting about the SDMA test, I will certainly read it and keep it for future reference.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

I have just had a blood chem test on my dog who had a UTI. There was a new ( to me anyway!) test, SDMA. It is said to detect kidney function problems earlier than the usual creatinine indicator. The numbers have to be evaluated together with the creatinine and urine tests for definitive diagnosis. I was intrigued with this 'early warning' kidney finction test as it might enable us to treat or slow down the onset of kidney failure. Having lost my previous Yorkie suddenly to this horrible disease I might have saved her had I known she was sick earlier.
I have only read a little on this so far, so please excuse the limited info.

This is excellent news, very exciting news! Texas A&M is also involved in this study....

"........IRIS recognizes that SDMA is a new biomarker for renal dysfunction that can allow for earlier detection of chronic kidney disease,” said Astrid M. van Dongen, DVM, DipRNVA (Internal Medicine), president of the IRIS board and associate professor of internal medicine/nephrology, faculty of veterinary medicine, Utrecht University. “SDMA has the potential to expand diagnostic insight and therapeutic opportunities for veterinarians caring for pets with this critical disease.”

IRIS is the International Renal Interest Society, a board of 15 world-renowned independent veterinarians with particular expertise in nephrology, from ten different countries.

SDMA is a groundbreaking new kidney biomarker that identifies the onset of kidney disease months or even years earlier than traditional methods, greatly expanding clinical insights and treatment options in cats and dogs. The test arrived on the market following an extensive pilot launch involving over 600 veterinary practices and after 8 years of research and clinical studies that have culminated in the publication of 27 peer-reviewed scientific and clinical publications to date.

“Kidney disease is a serious illness for both cats and dogs, one that takes pets’ lives too often because it is detected too late,” said Trish Auge, DVM, of A Cat Hospital in Henderson, Nev. “The ability to identify chronic kidney disease earlier with SDMA means that my clients and I can intervene and potentially help pets to live longer and healthier lives.”

Until now, kidney disease has been routinely diagnosed in part by measuring blood creatinine. However, creatinine is limited in that it cannot detect kidney disease until late in the disease process, and it is known to have poor sensitivity in pets with low muscle mass. Traditionally, a diagnosis is made when 75% of kidney function has been irreversibly lost. At this point, the prognosis is usually very poor. In recent clinical studies at Texas A&M University and Oregon State University, research revealed that SDMA identified disease much earlier in the disease progression, when the kidneys had suffered far less damage. The Oregon State University study demonstrated SDMA detected CKD up to 4 years earlier in at least one animal. On average, SDMA detected kidney disease when only 40%—and in some cases 25%—of function had been lost.

With over 100,000 clinical data points, it is clear that SDMA identifies significantly more pets with kidney disease than creatinine can. In these patients, earlier detection allows veterinarians to investigate for underlying causes, treat those causes, manage the patient according to the appropriate International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage, and customize an appropriate monitoring plan, all with the goal of slowing the progression of CKD.

The SDMA test will be available in Canadian routine chemistry panels later this summer. A rollout in IDEXX’s global reference laboratory network will extend into 2016.
For more information about SDMA, visit idexx.com/sdma or call 1-888-433-9987......"

This is absolutely nothing but terrific news that we can all be excited about!!!! I of course, am THRILLED that my guys at Texas A&M are involved in this research!!!

[dottiesyrky]

Thank you for the reference material that explains in more detail about the tests and ongoing research. It is very new and as more clinical and research data are collected in time, we will know even more about the effects of earlier detection on treatment and progression of kidney disease.
It would be interesting for example if data on SDMA versus pet's age were known, and also how long it takes for the disease to progress from say 40% to the horrible 75% kidney function loss. (These data could be buried in the 27 publications though?)
It is amazing that the dog can appear healthy with such a large percentage if its kidney function lost.
WTG Texas A &M . Look forward to more exciting news on this topic.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

Thank you for the reference material that explains in more detail about the tests and ongoing research. It is very new and as more clinical and research data are collected in time, we will know even more about the effects of earlier detection on treatment and progression of kidney disease.
It would be interesting for example if data on SDMA versus pet's age were known, and also how long it takes for the disease to progress from say 40% to the horrible 75% kidney function loss. (These data could be buried in the 27 publications though?)
It is amazing that the dog can appear healthy with such a large percentage if its kidney function lost.
WTG Texas A &M . Look forward to more exciting news on this topic.

This is why I do minimum once/year blood work. The blood work is usually the first clue you have that something is going on. And, if treated early, many illnesses and conditions respond better to treatment.
.

[Heartxxxxx]

Great News Thanks for the information

[dottiesyrky]

I agree Lady Jane, regular tests are essential for early detection of issues. I hope most vets remind the pet owner about them and see to it that they are done.
Sadly some here do not seem to have the funds for these tests and checkups and it leads to more trouble and pain for the owners and pets down the road when a treatable disease becomes really serious. If that is the case I thoroughly recommend insurance, the relatively small monthly premiums are well worth it and owners are more likely to do the tests if they are covered. (Rant over, )

[yorkiemom76]

Idexx is running the test for free whenever the vet clinic sends other blood work to them on the pet. I believe it's only free for a limited time though. I think there will eventually be a charge but I'm not sure when that's going to happen or how much it will cost. I work in a vet clinic and we've been requesting them the last few weeks.