New Idexx Test Detects Kidney Disease Months To Years Earlier

[4My2Greys]

https://www.idexx.com/corporate/news-and-events/press-release/2015/20150119pr.html

 

New IDEXX Test Detects Kidney Disease in Cats and Dogs Months or Years Earlier than Standard Screening Technologies

 

Breakthrough in medical and preventive care; IDEXX to provide SDMA as part of routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles at no additional charge

 

Orlando, FL, North American Veterinary Conference, January 19, 2015IDEXX Laboratories,Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX) announced today an upcoming kidney function test,called SDMA (or symmetric dimethylarginine),that promises to transform the way veterinarians diagnose and treat kidney disease in cats and dogs. The new renal biomarker identifies the onset of kidney disease months or even years earlier than traditional methods,greatly expanding treatment options.

 

IDEXX plans to include the SDMA kidney test in all routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles at no additional cost and with the same rapid turnaround time. This will enable veterinarians to diagnose kidney disease earlier,including during routine preventive care testing,while there is still enough kidney function for more effective intervention and disease management.

 

We expect to begin trials with several hundred customers in North America by March,and to roll out the test as part of the routine chemistry panel in the North American market this summer. A roll-out in our global reference laboratory network will extend into 2016, said Jonathan W. Ayers,president and chief executive officer of IDEXX Laboratories.

 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of suffering and death in cats and dogs. In time,one in three cats and one in 10 dogs will develop some form of the disease. Until today,kidney disease has been routinely diagnosed in part by measuring blood creatinine. However, creatinine alone cannot detect kidney disease until late in the disease process, limiting the opportunity to extend the life of the pet through treatment options. Typically,a diagnosis is made when 75% of kidney function has been irreversibly lost. At this point,the prognosis can be poor.

 

The new SDMA test changes that. In a recent clinical study,Oregon State University researchers showed SDMA identified disease much earlier in the disease progression,when the kidney had suffered far less damage that results in permanent loss of functionup to four years earlier in at least one animal. On average,SDMA detected kidney disease when only 40% of function had been lost, and in some cases,25% of function. Earlier detection allows veterinarians to provide more effective intervention and disease management,which could add months or even years to pet lives.

 

Until now,it hasnt been possible to detect kidney disease until late in the course of the disease, said Roberta L. Relford,DVM,MS,PhD,DACVIM,DACVP, vice president and chief medical officer of IDEXX Laboratories. The ability to diagnose kidney disease earlier will enable veterinarians and pet owners to care for affected pets in a way that enhances their well-being and may even extend their lives.

 

For more than 30 years,IDEXX innovation has helped veterinarians elevate the standard of care for pets, said Ayers. SDMA is another result of our industry-leading investment in advancing veterinary medicine,and it represents a significant achievement in preventive care diagnostics. It will transform the way kidney disease is diagnosed and treated. Were adding it to all routine chemistry profiles offered by IDEXX Reference Laboratories so that it becomes a standard part of good preventive care,helping pets live long, happy lives.

 

IDEXX unveiled this breakthrough in medical and preventive care at the North American Veterinary Conference,taking place this week in Orlando. IDEXX will provide SDMA testing as part of all routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles. IDEXX customers can easily add an SDMA test to their in-house chemistry profiles by running a stand-alone SDMA test at IDEXX Reference Laboratories.

 

Veterinarians who wish to learn more about the technology and treatment protocols can visit idexx.com/sdma (See below)

 

https://www.idexx.com/small-animal-health/solutions/articles/sdma-diagnose-kidney-disease.html

 

Earlier Diagnosis of Kidney Disease

 

SDMA allows earlier intervention for more effective management of kidney disease

 

by Jane Robertson,DVM,DACVIM

 

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Over their lifetime,1 in 3 cats 1 and 1 in 10 dogs 2 could develop chronic kidney disease (CKD)a leading cause of death, particularly in cats. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a revolutionary new kidney function test that will enable veterinarians to diagnose CKD in cats and dogs months or even years earlier than traditional methods, making it possible to intervene earlier and more effectively manage kidney disease.

 

SDMA is a methylated form of the amino acid arginine,which is produced in every cell and released into the bodys circulation during protein degradation. SDMA is excreted almost exclusively by the kidneys,making it a good marker for estimating kidney function. Research has shown that SDMA can identify CKD an average of 9 months earlier in dogs 3 and 17 months sooner in catsin one cat 4 years earlier. 4 In addition,SDMA is not impacted by muscle mass,thereby providing practitioners a better tool for diagnosing and monitoring CKD in thin geriatric animals,especially cats and animals with other diseases that cause muscle wasting. 5,6

 

The creatinine catch

 

Until now,kidney disease has been routinely diagnosed in part by measuring blood creatinine. As veterinarians know, creatinine does not detect a problem until a cat or dog has lost up to 75% of their kidney function. During the course of the disease,everyone in the veterinary practice develops strong bonds with these pets and their owners because most of these pets require lifelong management,including regular veterinary visits. However,even the most dedicated owner can be overwhelmed by the needs of their beloved pet,which may include convincing them to accept and eat a special diet,sometimes administering many pills multiple times per day and even learning to administer subcutaneous fluids. Identifying kidney disease earlier could help you and owners manage their pets more effectively.

 

Investigate,manage and monitorearlier

 

With the new SDMA test,CKD can be detected much earlieron average,at only 40% loss of kidney function and,in some cases,as little as 25% loss. 4 Recognition of kidney disease during routine preventive care testing while the pet is still clinically healthy will be more common. Early diagnosis will allow veterinarians to investigate,manage and monitor chronic kidney disease in their patients earlier in the disease process. Early identification of CKD should prompt investigation for an underlying cause, such as pyelonephritis or Lyme disease, which would provide the potential for specific treatment that could reverse or slow the progression of the disease. Management of these pets will be less involved early in the disease,improving owner compliance. Closer monitoring will help identify when the disease does progress so that additional therapies can be initiated when needed. With earlier intervention,veterinarians will improve pet wellbeing and hopefully add months or even years to pets lives.

 

A better indicator in pets with diminished body mass

 

Diagnosing and monitoring CKD in underweight animals can be challenging. SDMA will also provide veterinarians with a better tool for recognizing and monitoring CKD in pets with poor body condition. Because creatinine is a byproduct of muscle breakdown,loss of total lean body mass associated with aging and chronic disease can lower creatinine concentrations,resulting in a poor estimation of renal function. A study in older cats confirmed that as cats aged, they lost muscle mass and creatinine decreased rather than increased,even as kidney function decreased. In these cats, SDMA increased as kidney function declined with no correlation to lean body mass,thus making it a more accurate indicator of kidney function. 5 A similar study performed in dogs revealed that lean body mass and creatinine were positively correlated,whereas there was no correlation between SDMA and total lean body mass. 6 Being able to accurately identify and monitor CKD in our underweight and poorly muscled patients may impact the management of not only their CKD but also of their concurrent illness.

 

SDMA from IDEXX

 

IDEXX is excited to provide customers with this revolutionary new test that will strengthen the bond between your practice and your patients by transforming the way you diagnose and treat kidney disease. IDEXX will include the SDMA kidney test in all routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles this summer at no additional cost and with the same turnaround time.

 

Earlier diagnosis of CKD with SDMA will make it possible for veterinarians to intervene earlier and more effectively manage their patients kidney disease. SDMA is being added to all routine reference laboratory chemistry profiles so that it becomes a standard part of good preventive care,helping pets live long, happy lives.

 

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Resources

 

Introduction to a New Kidney Test: SDMA

 

Algorithm: Diagnosing Early Kidney Disease with SDMA and What to Do Next

 

Advances in Diagnosing and Staging Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs and Cats

 

2014 ACVIM Abstracts:

 

Small AnimalNepthrology/Urology: NU-27 and NU-28

 

Small AnimalNepthrology/Urology: NU-41 and NU-42

 

2013 ACVIM Abstract:

 

Small AnimalNutrition/Metabolism: NM-10

 

Relationship between Serum Symmetric Dimethylarginine Concentration and Glomerular Filtration Rate in Cats

 

Comparison of Serum Concentrations of Symmetric Dimethylarginine and Creatinine as Kidney Function Biomarkers in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

 

SDMA informational videos

[MaryJane]

Thanks for posting! This is good news if it works as they describe.

[Victor]

This is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing this!

[NeylasMom]

Very exciting, thank you for sharing this!

 

I'm hoping it will be included in the profile the next time Cisco needs his annual blood work. Since we know he has CKD and has had it for some time, it will be interesting to be able to see what his SDMA reading is.

[galgrey]

Thanks for posting this. I lost my boy, Cruz, to CRF in 2012. I had no idea what was happening until it was too late.

[krissy]

I was at a conference in January, and I'm not sure what has happened in the couple of months since, however the specialists I spoke to were anywhere from cautiously optimistic to skeptical about this test. It certainly isn't a home run yet. The impression I got was that many feel this was released too early and that it hasn't been proven yet, and many were recommending not using it until there has been further work done to validate it.

[tbhounds]

I was at a conference in January, and I'm not sure what has happened in the couple of months since, however the specialists I spoke to were anywhere from cautiously optimistic to skeptical about this test. It certainly isn't a home run yet. The impression I got was that many feel this was released too early and that it hasn't been proven yet, and many were recommending not using it until there has been further work done to validate it.

I had heard the same thing

Edited April 13, 2015 by tbhounds

[4My2Greys]

I was at a conference in January, and I'm not sure what has happened in the couple of months since, however the specialists I spoke to were anywhere from cautiously optimistic to skeptical about this test. It certainly isn't a home run yet. The impression I got was that many feel this was released too early and that it hasn't been proven yet, and many were recommending not using it until there has been further work done to validate it.

Well if it is anything better than how I finally got confirmation that Nadir had end stage renal disease, which was a necropsy, you can count me as pretty darn excited about any improvement.