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Serum and urinary cystatin C in cats with feline immunodeficiency virus infection and cats with hyperthyroidism

Liesbeth F E Ghys1, Dominique Paepe2, Elien R L Taffin2

  • 1Department of Medicine and Clinical Biology of Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium liesbeth.ghys@ugent.be.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
|June 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Serum cystatin C (sCysC) is elevated in hyperthyroid cats, unlike in cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Urinary cystatin C (uCysC) may indicate tubular dysfunction in hyperthyroid cats.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Hyperthyroidism and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are common feline diseases.
  • Assessing renal function in affected cats is crucial for diagnosis and management.
  • Serum creatinine (sCr) is a common but sometimes insensitive marker for kidney disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum cystatin C (sCysC) and urinary cystatin C (uCysC) in cats with hyperthyroidism and FIV.
  • To compare sCysC and uCysC levels with traditional renal biomarkers.
  • To evaluate the potential of cystatin C as a marker for renal dysfunction in these feline populations.

Main Methods:

  • Included 30 cats with FIV, 26 hyperthyroid cats, and 28 healthy controls.
  • Measured sCysC and the urinary cystatin C to creatinine ratio (uCysC/uCr) using a validated immunoassay.
  • Assessed routine renal variables: serum creatinine (sCr), urine specific gravity, and urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPC).

Main Results:

  • Hyperthyroid cats showed significantly higher sCysC and uCysC/uCr ratio, lower sCr, and higher UPC compared to healthy cats.
  • FIV-infected cats had significantly higher sCr and UPC but not significantly higher sCysC; uCysC was detectable in only four FIV cats.
  • sCysC was elevated in hyperthyroid cats, contrasting with sCr, and many hyperthyroid cats had an elevated uCysC/uCr ratio.

Conclusions:

  • Serum cystatin C is increased in hyperthyroid cats, offering a potential alternative or complementary marker to sCr.
  • Urinary cystatin C warrants further investigation as a potential marker for tubular dysfunction in feline hyperthyroidism.
  • Cystatin C did not appear to be elevated in FIV-infected cats, despite evidence of renal compromise.
Abstract

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