2018 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program: Seattle, Washington, June 14 - 15, 2018

Results of this study suggest that; (i) the serum concentration of SDMA did not detect kidney tubular damage induced by the repeated administration of meloxicam earlier than creatinine in cats and (ii) clinicians may be unable to detect extensive kidney tubular damage in some cats by using SDMA and creatinine, at least until glomerulus are severely affected. This was a multi-institutional study (n=5 university hospitals). Patients prescribed oral fluconazole for confirmed or suspected fungal disease were enrolled. Dosing protocols were determined by treating clinicians. One to three serum samples were collected at opportunistic times per fluconazole dose interval; samples from multiple visits were encouraged. Samples were stored frozen and analyzed with a validated liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method. Clinical signs included fever (n=6), cough (5), tachypnea (3), regurgitation (2), ptyalism (1), hematemesis (1), and hemoptysis (1). On CBC, peripheral neutrophilia (2) and neutropenia (1) were noted; bands or neutrophil toxicity were common (5) . On BALF cytology, degenerate neutrophils (4/6) and intracellular bacteria (3/6) were observed. Secondary bacterial pneumonia (4) blinded to diagnosis obtained measurements on a lateral radiograph: number of intercostal spaces from the first rib to carina (ICS), distance from caudal aspect of manubrium to carina (MC), standardized vertebral score by drawing MC from the fourth thoracic vertebrae and counting numbers of included vertebral bodies (VS), and distance from first rib to carina (RC). A two factor ANOVA was used; data were reported as mean±SEM. Seventy-eight cats were included. The mass group had increased ICS, MC, VS, and RC compared to other groups.