Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of MiRNA-21, Symmetric Dimethyl Arginine, and Oxidative Stress Markers in Tom Cats with Obstructive Urolithiasis

This study aimed to evaluate miRNA-21, symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA), and oxidative stress marker alterations in tom cats with obstructive urolithiasis by measuring miRNA-21 (SDMA), total protein (TP), albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorous, and cortisol. This study was conducted on 25 Shirazi tom cats, allocated into tom cats with obstructive urolithiasis (n = 20) and the control group (n = 5). All cats were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographic, urine, and biochemical examinations. The tom cats showed signs of hematuria, dysuria, anuria, vomiting, and depression. The ultrasonographic examination showed the presence of a hyperechoic structure in the wall of the urinary bladder with thickening in the wall urinary bladder in the obstructive urolithiasis group. The urine analysis showed the presence of pus cells, RBC cells, uric acid crystals, and ca oxalate crystals. There were significant increases in the levels of urea, BUN, creatinine, SDMA, MDA, and cortisol, along with significant decreases in levels of albumin, total protein, and GSH-PX in the obstructive urolithiasis group compared to the control group. The level of miRNA-21 showed an increase in its fold expression of 14.62 in the obstructive urolithiasis group compared to the control group. Based on the results of the current study, it was concluded that miRNA-21 could be used as a potential biomarker along with SDMA and oxidative stress biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of obstructive urolithiasis associated with renal dysfunction in tom cats.