Biochemistry Flashcards
What Is tested In a Pre-anaesthetic profile?
Urea Creatnine Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) Alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) Glucose Total Protein (TP)
What does BUN stand for ?
Blood Urea Nitrogen
What are the normal ranges of BUN for dogs and cats?
Dog: 2.5-7mmol/L
Cat: 5-11mmol/L
What is BUN?
A waste product formed by the liver and excreted by the kidneys as a result of protein metabolism.
- good indicator of both liver and kidney function
What can cause an increase in BUN?
Infection of necrosis
High protein diet
Chronic heart failure (poor renal perfusion so less urea taken into kidneys therefore high levels in blood)
Urethral obstruction or rupture of bladder
Renal Failure
Dehydration
Corticosteroid therapy
What may cause a decrease in BUN?
Low protein diet
Liver failure
Anabolic steroids
Portosystemic shunt
What does CPK stand for?
Creatnine phosphokinase
What are the normal ranges of Creatnine Phosphokinase?
Dog : 40-120 umol/L
Cat: 40-120 umol/L
What is Creatnine Phosphokinase?
Creatnine is formed from creatine in skeletal muscle. The quantity produced depends on diet and muscle mass. Creatnine diffuses out of the muscle and into the blood when muscle cells are damaged.
Its normally filtered through the glomeruli of the kidney and excreted in the urine (so determines kidney function)
Why is CPK not a great indicator of early kidney issues?
Because 75% of kidney function needs to be lost before we will see and increased level of blood creatnine levels
What can cause an increase in CPK?
Muscular disorders Hypothyroidism Heart Disease Selenium/Vit E deficiencies Muscle trauma Damage to glomeruli, urethral obstruction or bladder rupture
What is ALT?
Alanine Aminotransferase
What are the normal ranges of ALT in dogs and cats?
Dog: 10-75 IU/L
Cat: 35-135 IU/L
What is the function of ALT?
Plays a crucial role in metabolism - turning food into energy. Found inside liver cells. If the liver cells are damaged, they release ALT into the blood
What can cause an increase in ALT ?
Liver disease
Severe muscle damage
Feline hyperthyroidism
What is ALKP?
Alkaline Phophatase
What are the normal ranges of ALKP in dogs and cats
Dog: 0-80 IU/L
Cat: 15-96 IU/L
Why might we see larger quantities of ALKP in young animals?
Widely distributed in body.
Higher levels seen in young animals as they are still growing and there are large quantities of ALKP in osteoblasts in the bone.
What is the normal range of glucose in dogs and cats?
3.3-6mmol/L in both
What controls the levels of glucose in the body?
Insulin and glucagon
What do glucose levels give us information on?
Carbohydrate metabolism
Endocrine pancreatic function
What can cause increased levels of glucose?
Diabetes mellitus (Autoimmune attack of pancreas therefore no longer can produce insulin)
Hyperadrenocorticism
Corticosteroid therapy (cortisol keeps glucose around and counteracts insulin)
Stress and Pancreatitis
Post-feeding samples
What can cause a decreased level of glucose in the blood?
Hepatic insufficiency Hypoadrenocorticism Neoplasia Malabsorption Starvation Insulin treatment
What are the normal ranges of total protein in dogs and cats?
Dog: 54-71 g/L
Cat: 54-78g/L
What is ‘Total Protein’?
The sum of albumin and globulin in the blood
albumin is made in liver cells; globulin play a role in immune status(immunoglobulins)
What can cause elevated levels of TP?
Dehydration Chronic and immune-mediated disease Lactation Infection Neoplasia
What can cause a decrease in TP?
Renal disease Malnutrition Malabsorption Haemorrhage Hepatic and Pancreatic insufficiency
