A utilização do dimetilarginina simétrica como marcador precoce da doença renal crônica em pequenos animais

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive and irreversible condition that frequently affects elderly dogs and can be silent in its early stages. Early diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and increased survival of affected animals. This paper aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) as an early marker of CKD. To that end, we report on two clinical cases of dogs with suspected CKD seen in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais (Brazil), highlighting the importance of using SDMA as an early disease marker. In the first case, the diagnosis was made at an early stage thanks to the inclusion of SDMA during check-up, allowing for the early initiation of clinical management. The second case was used for comparative purposes to support the idea of some authors that serum creatinine is influenced by body mass, as the dog presented with severe cachexia, without significant changes in creatinine levels, showing a result inconsistent with the clinical condition. Thus, SDMA proves to be a valuable tool for early detection and monitoring of kidney function in small animals, as it is not influenced by physiological factors such as body mass.