Cats commonly lose kidney function as they get older, a disease called chronic kidney disease(CKD), and this change is irreversible and progressive. This loss of kidney function results in accumulation of toxins in their body that leads to a great deal of suffering and death. There is no cure for CKD, and little is known about how to prevent it or slow its progression, especially in the early stages. Our standard markers of kidney function on blood work can only detect kidney disease when there is a loss of function of at least 75%, and this is when treatment for CKD is typically started based on our current understanding of the disease. We have preliminary data which shows that oxidative stress, indicated by a compound called F2-isoprostanepresent in the urine,may play a role in the worsening of CKD in the early stages. Oxidative stress results in an imbalance of reactive oxygen species and the body’s natural antioxidant capacity, and these reactive oxygen species are toxic to cells.There is a relatively new blood marker of kidney disease called symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) which can detect an earlier decrease in kidney function, closer to 40%loss of function. We propose a study to evaluate whether oxidative stress is associated with this new marker(SDMA). The results of this study could lay the groundwork to change our standard treatment recommendations by giving us evidence to institute treatment earlier, allowing cats with CKD to feel better longer and live longer
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