AVALIAÇÃO DA GAMA-GLUTAMILTRANSFERASE NA URINA DE CADELAS COM PIOMETRA

Abstract

Female dogs with pyometra may present tubular injuries caused by deposition of immune complexes that promote the development of primary glomerular disease, interstitial tubular injury, azotemia and reductions in the capacity for urinary concentration in the renal tubules and in the capacity for glomerular filtration. Considering the importance of early detection of renal tubule lesions in dogs with uterine infection, this study aims to determine the concentration of GGTu in the urine of 23 dogs aged between three and 13 years, diagnosed with pyometra. We determined serum levels of urea and creatinine and concentration of the enzyme GGTu in urine, by the colorimetric method, and the absorbance by spectrophotometry in automatic apparatus. The urinary density and presence of urinary protein excretion were measured using a urine reagent strip. Mean urinary density was 1,015 and urinary protein excretion was found in 65% (15/23) of animals. Elevated levels of urea were observed in all animals and of creatinine in 22% (5/23) of the animals studied, with the mean values being equal to 60.39 mg/dL and 1.38 mg/dL, respectively. Among the dogs evaluated with pyometra, 43% (10/23) showed an increase of GGTu, with a mean of 180U/L. Elevated GGTu without concomitant increase in serum creatinine was observed in 70% of animals (7/10), indicating that the measurement of the activity of GGTu in urine is a more appropriate laboratory test for the detection of acute tubular injury in dogs with pyometra than measuring urea and creatinine in the serum, when trying to detect the presence of tubular injury.

Keywords

• Canis familiaris
• Enzymuria
• Uterine infection
• Renal biomarkers