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. 2022 Sep;54(5):958-964.
doi: 10.1111/evj.13520. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration in healthy neonatal Thoroughbred foals

Rachel L Gough  1 , Kate F McGovern  1
Affiliations

Serum symmetric dimethylarginine concentration in healthy neonatal Thoroughbred foals

Rachel L Gough et al. Equine Vet J. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is widely used in other species as a marker of renal dysfunction and is considered a more sensitive indicator of glomerular filtration rate than creatinine. Reference ranges are established in healthy adult horses (≤14 μg/dL) and concentrations are increased in horses with acute kidney injury (median 32 μg/dL; range 15-92).

Objectives: To establish the normal range of SDMA concentrations in neonatal Thoroughbreds.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from Thoroughbred foals <36 h old deemed healthy by physical examination. Exclusion criteria included foals from mares undergoing treatment for placentitis and foals that developed clinical disease or died/euthanised <2 weeks from birth. Biochemistry and serum SDMA concentrations were obtained.

Results: Subjects included 120 foals. Median age was 13.5 h (range 1.0-34.0). Median and 95% confidence interval for SDMA concentration was 69.0 µg/dL (63.0, 75.0; range 35.0-376.0). A cut-off value of 168 µg/dL would include 95% of individuals and is therefore suggested. Serum SDMA concentration was correlated with age (R = -.3, P = .003), creatinine concentration (R = .6, P ≤ .001) and urea concentration (R = .3, P = .002).

Main limitations: Limitations include a small sample size, no consideration of subclinical disease and a short follow-up period.

Conclusions: In equine neonates, SDMA concentration is higher than in adult horses, older foals and adults with acute kidney injury. Therefore, currently SDMA cannot be used as a marker of renal dysfunction in this age group. Further work is required to assess whether SDMA concentration is increased in neonates with renal disease and, if so, what cut-off should be used.

Keywords: SDMA; horse; neonate; renal.

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References

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