Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: CECILIA AZEVEDO DIAS LOPES

New diagnostic approaches in mineral and bone disorders in canine chronic kidney disease

mineral and bone disorder, renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, fibrous osteodystrophy, penetrometer

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease with relevant prevalence and an important cause of loss of quality of life and longevity in dogs and cats. The decrease in kidney functions leads to a series of changes in the body's homeostasis and clinical consequences in affected animals, the appearance and severity of which may vary according to the severity and chronicity of CKD. The mineral and bone metabolic disorder related to CKD (DMO-CKD) has received renewed interest due to the new conception of bone tissue with great endocrine importance in the process. CKD-BMD can result in loss of bone mineral density and, more seriously, replacement of bone tissue with fibrous tissue. As a result, pathological fractures, pain and loss of quality of life may develop, often leading to euthanasia of affected animals. Diagnostic techniques available in human medicine to evaluate the repercussions of CKD-DMO on bone tissue, such as advanced imaging tests for bone assessment and serum biomarkers, are not available in clinical routine for use in small animals. Digital optical densitometry is a simple and easy-to-perform technique that can be useful in evaluating bone mineral density in dogs with CKD, as well as evaluating its correlation with serum biomarkers available in clinical routine. Therefore, the present research project aims to evaluate the sensitivity of digital optical densitometry in detecting decreased bone mineral density in dogs with different stages of chronic kidney disease. And also its correlation with serum biomarkers total alkaline phosphatase and bone fraction, total calcium, ionic calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine and albumin. In this way, we hope to contribute to new and accessible methodologies for diagnosing and monitoring CKD-BMD in dogs.