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. 2024 Oct 1;86(10):1096-1099.
doi: 10.1292/jvms.24-0163. Epub 2024 Sep 3.

Reference intervals for urinary metanephrines to creatinine ratios in dogs in Japan

Noriyuki Nagata  1   2 , Yoshinori Ikenaka  3   4   5   6 , Hiryu Sawamura  2 , Noboru Sasaki  2 , Mitsuyoshi Takiguchi  7
Affiliations

Reference intervals for urinary metanephrines to creatinine ratios in dogs in Japan

Noriyuki Nagata et al. J Vet Med Sci. .

Abstract

The urinary normetanephrine to creatinine ratio (uNMN/Cr) and urinary metanephrine to creatinine ratio (uMN/Cr) are commonly evaluated for the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas (PCC) in dogs. This study aimed to establish reference intervals for uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr in 56 healthy dogs in Japan and to investigate the effect of urine collection methods on these measurements in 15 non-PCC dogs. The upper limits of reference intervals for uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr were 124.4 nmol/mmol (90% confidence interval [CI] 107.7-137.0) and 121.1 nmol/mmol (90% CI 102.8-145.1), respectively. Both uNMN/Cr and uMN/Cr were significantly higher when urine was collected in the hospital compared to at home. Several factors, including the method of urine collection, should be considered when utilizing these reference intervals.

Keywords: canine; metanephrines; pheochromocytomas; reference interval; urine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Distribution of the (A) urinary normetanephrine to creatinine ratio (uNMN/Cr) and (B) urinary metanephrine to creatinine ratio (uMN/Cr) in 56 healthy dogs.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Box and whisker plots of the (A) urinary normetanephrine to creatinine ratio (uNMN/Cr) and (B) urinary metanephrine to creatinine ratio (uMN/Cr) measured using urine collected at home and in hospital.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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