A randomized controlled clinical trial of the use of benazepril and heparin for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of benazepril and heparin on renal function and blood pressure in dogs with chronic kidney disease. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 26 dogs with chronic kidney disease. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly assigned to receive benazepril hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg [0.23 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h; n = 10), benazepril and heparin (150 U/kg [68 U/lb], SC, q 8 h, for the first 6 days; 10), or a placebo (6) and were followed up for 180 days. RESULTS: Health status score at the end of the study (ie, day 180) was significantly higher for dogs in the 2 treatment groups than for dogs in the placebo group. In addition, glomerular filtration rate was significantly increased and the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was significantly decreased, compared with baseline rates, at the end of the study for dogs in both treatment groups but not for dogs in the placebo group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased on day 6 for dogs in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that administration of benazepril had beneficial effects in dogs with chronic kidney disease but that short-term administration of heparin in conjunction with benazepril did not appear to provide any additional benefit.

Measurement of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide in plasma of cats with and without cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (Nt-proANP) concentrations in cats with cardiomyopathy (CM) differ from values in healthy cats and evaluate whether plasma Nt-proANP concentrations can be used to discriminate cats with CM and congestive heart failure (CHF) from CM-affected cats without CHF. ANIMALS: 16 cats that had CM without CHF, 16 cats that had CM with CHF, and 11 healthy control cats. PROCEDURES: All cats underwent a physical examination, assessment of clinicopathologic variables (including plasma thyroxine concentration), thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. On the basis of findings, cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (control cats, cats with CM and CHF, and cats with CM without CHF). Venous blood samples were obtained from all 43 cats, and plasma Nt-proANP concentrations were measured by use of a human proANP(1-98) ELISA. RESULTS: Plasma Nt-proANP concentrations differed significantly among the 3 groups. Median Nt-proANP concentration was 381 fmol/mL (range, 52 to 450 fmol/mL), 763 fmol/mL (range, 167 to 2,386 fmol/mL), and 2,443 fmol/mL (range, 1,189 to 15,462 fmol/mL) in the control group, in cats with CM without CHF, and in cats with CM and CHF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurement of plasma Nt-proANP concentration could be of benefit in the assessment of cats with naturally occurring CM and might have potential as a screening marker for the disease. Furthermore, measurement of plasma NtproANP concentration may be useful for distinguishing cats with CM and CHF from those with CM and no CHF.

Effects of preoperative administration of carprofen on renal function and hemostasis in dogs undergoing surgery for fracture repair.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of preoperative administration of carprofen on renal function and hemostasis in dogs undergoing general anesthesia for fracture repair. ANIMALS: 26 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was induced with levomethadone, diazepam, and propofol and maintained by administration of isoflurane in oxygen-nitrous oxide. Carprofen (4 mg/kg, SC) was administered 1 hour before induction to 13 dogs (group 1) and after extubation to the other 13 dogs (group 2). All dogs also received carprofen (4 mg/kg, SC, q 24 h) for the first 4 days after surgery. Renal function (glomerular filtration rate [GFR], urinary protein-to-urinary creatinine ratio [UP:UC], and results of urinalysis and biochemical analysis of plasma), hemostatic variables (bleeding time, platelet aggregation, prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], and platelet count), and Hct were assessed before and at various time points after surgery. RESULTS: Analysis of results for renal function tests, most of the hemostatic and plasma biochemical variables, and Hct did not reveal significant differences between treatment groups. Values for GFR, UP:UC, PT, APTT, and platelet aggregation were outside reference ranges in many dogs before surgery and during the first 6 hours after surgery. In most dogs, these trauma-induced pathologic changes returned to within reference ranges during the 4-day period after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen did not cause clinically relevant adverse effects in dogs anesthetized for fracture repair after 5 days of treatment, even when it was administered before surgery or given to patients with trauma-induced alterations in renal function or hemostasis.