Our objective was to identify if changes in serum protein concentrations occur in hyperthyroidism and to assess their association with the development of azotaemia following treatment. Initially non-azotaemic hyperthyroid cats and healthy older cats were included. Serum concentrations of protein fractions were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and compared between; hyperthyroid and control cats, initially non-azotaemic hyperthyroid cats which developed azotaemia in a 4month follow up period (masked-azotaemic) and those which remained non-azotaemic, and hyperthyroid cats before and at the time of restoration of euthyroidism. Data are presented as median [25th, 75th percentiles]. Hyperthyroid cats (n=56) had higher serum α2 globulin concentrations (12.5 [10.9, 13.1] g/L vs. 9.8 [3.0, 11.4] g/L; P<0.001) and lower serum γ globulin concentrations (11.4 [9.1, 13.3] g/L vs. 14.0 [12.4, 16.8] g/L; P=0.001) than control cats (n=26). Following treatment, serum total globulin concentration increased (from 38.6 [35.4, 42.8] g/L to 42.3 [39.0, 45.7] g/L; P<0.001), serum α2 globulin concentration decreased (from 12.5 [10.9, 13.9] g/L to 11.5 [10.1, 12.6] g/L; P<0.001) and serum γ globulin concentration increased (from 11.4 [9.0, 13.3] g/L to 14.0 [12.4, 16.8] g/L; P<0.001). Serum concentrations of total globulin or globulin fractions were not significantly different between masked-azotaemic and non azotaemic groups. In conclusion, hyperthyroidism is associated with altered serum concentrations of the α2 and γ globulin fractions, however these changes were not associated with the development of azotaemic chronic kidney disease following treatment.
Keywords: Azotaemia; Electrophoresis; Globulin; Protein; Serum.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.