struvite and Proteinuria

In carcinogenicity studies with PPAR gamma and alpha/gamma agonists, urinary bladder tumors have been reported in Harlan Sprague-Dawley (HSD) and Charles River Sprague-Dawley (SD) but not Wistar (WI) rats, with urolithiasis purported to be the inciting event. In two 3-month studies, the authors investigated strain-related differences in urine composition by sampling urine multiple times daily. Urine pH, electrolytes, creatinine, protein, citrate and oxalate levels, and serum citrate were assessed; urine sediment was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. HSD rats had significantly higher urine calcium than SD or WI rats, primarily as calcium phosphate-containing precipitate. When compared to SD rats, HSD rats had lower urine volume, higher urine protein, and a comparable (week 4) to lower (week 13) burden of MgNH(4)PO(4) aggregates. Relative to WI rats, HSD rats had higher urine protein and magnesium and lower serum and urine citrate. Overall, the susceptibility to urolithiasis in male rats was HSD > SD > WI; this was likely due to strain-related differences in the amount of urine protein (a nidus for crystal formation), lithogenic ions, citrate (an inhibitor of lithogenesis), and/or volume. Strain-related differences in urine composition need to be considered when interpreting the outcome of studies with compounds that alter urine composition.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Calcium Phosphates; Citrates; Creatinine; Electrolytes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnesium; Magnesium Compounds; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oxalates; Phosphates; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats, Wistar; Species Specificity; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; Struvite; Urinalysis; Urolithiasis

To identify the underlying cause of clinical signs in cats with nonobstructive diseases of the bladder and urethra.. Prospective case series.. 109 cats examined by the urology service of The Ohio State University's veterinary teaching hospital because of stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, or urination in inappropriate locations.. History was obtained and a CBC, serum biochemical analyses, serologic tests for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus, urinalysis, bacterial culture of urine, and contrast radiography or urethrocystoscopy (females only) were performed.. 16 cats had cystic calculi: 8 had struvite uroliths, 7 had calcium oxalate uroliths, and 1 had a urolith of unknown composition in conjunction with an anatomic defect. Anatomic defects, including diverticulae, urethral strictures, and a malpositioned urethra, were identified in 12 cats. A urinary tract infection was identified in 1 cat, and neoplasia was diagnosed in 2. One of the cats with neoplasia also had a struvite urolith. The remaining 80 cats did not have an anatomic defect, urolith, or tumor. Ten of these cats also did not have radiographic or cystoscopic abnormalities and were presumed to have a behavioral disorder. The remaining 70 cats had radiographic or cystoscopic abnormalities, and idiopathic cystitis was diagnosed. In 14 of the cats with idiopathic cystitis, results of a urinalysis were normal. Cats with idiopathic cystitis were significantly more likely to eat dry food exclusively (59%) than were cats in the general population (19%).. Results suggest that idiopathic cystitis occurs commonly in cats with stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, or inappropriate elimination and is associated with consumption of dry foods. Contrast radiography or cystoscopy is necessary for differentiating idiopathic cystitis from behavioral disorders in some cats.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Cystitis; Cystoscopy; Diverticulum; Female; Hematuria; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnesium Compounds; Male; Phosphates; Prospective Studies; Proteinuria; Specific Gravity; Struvite; Urethra; Urethral Stricture; Urinary Bladder Calculi; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urine; Urologic Diseases

Total serum protein levels in 70 patients with urolithiasis were not significantly different from those in 20 control subjects, although certain variations were detected in individual protein patterns. In contrast, total urinary protein was significantly higher in patients with urolithiasis. 4-6 different components, i.e., albumin, alpha 1-acidic glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, Gc-globulin, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G, were found in the matrices of calculi and in urine, suggesting that proteinuria may play a role in the formation of stones in patients with urolithiasis.

Topics: Blood Proteins; Calcium Oxalate; Humans; Magnesium; Magnesium Compounds; Phosphates; Proteins; Proteinuria; Struvite; Uric Acid; Urinary Calculi