VALUTAZIONE DEL RAPPORTO URINARIO PROTEINE TOTALI–CREATININA E ALBUMINA–CREATININA IN CANI AFFETTI DA IPERADRENOCORTICISMO E DA DIABETE MELLITO

The aim of this study was to investigate albumin to creatinine ratio (U:A/C) in dogs with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypercortisolism (HC). Furthermore, the relationship between U:A/C as well as protein to creatinine ratio (U:P/C) with systemic pressure was investigated. Two cohorts of dogs diagnosed with DM (n=20) or HC (n=14) were included. A further group of healthy dogs (n=21) was evaluated as control. Urinalysis was performed to rule out urinary tract infections. Results indicate that pathologic proteinuria is highly prevalent in either DM or HC dogs. Our data confirm that U:A/C is more sensitive in assessing proteinuria than U:P/C. 25% of DM dogs and 14% of HC dogs showed U:A/C above reference range and U:P/C within the reference range. Neither U:A/C nor U:P/C correlated significantly with systemic pressure