Current Cardiology Research

Project title:

Comparison of the content of pimobendan in a commercially available tablet and compounded formulations.

Primary investigator: Justin D. Thomason, DVM

Co-Investigator Butch KuKanich, DVM

Background and Study Design:

Pimobendan is often a life-saving/life prolonging therapeutic intervention for dogs in heart failure. Unfortunately, a few patients cannot tolerate some of the excipients in the FDA approved formulation. Additionally, there may not be an FDA approved tablet size available to provide an accurate dose, and there are no FDA approved liquid formulations. This project is designed to determine whether compounded pimobendan is indeed a viable alternative to the FDA approved pimobendan tablets (Vetmedin) when administration of the tablets is not appropriate.

 

Project title:

To measure the concentration of interleukin-18, kidney injury molecule-1, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the urine of clinically healthy dogs, evaluate the effect of blood contamination on those concentrations, and perform stability study studying the effect of temperature, time, and freeze thaw cycles on interleukin-18 and kidney injury moelecule-1 concentrations.

Primary investigators: Justin D. Thomason, DVM

Graduate student Mark C. Morton, DVM

Background and Study Design:

The kidneys of dogs with endocardiosis eventually become damaged and deteriorate into chronic renal failure. The mechanism for this is complex and largely unknown. Currently the two best tests for detecting renal disease in canine patients are the measurement of serum creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations. However, they require at least a quarter to half of the kidney function to be lost before becoming elevated. It is imperative in these patients to detect kidney damage as soon as possible. Interleukin-18 (IL-18), neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) have been shown to be elevated in human patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Recent literature suggests a similar correlation in canine patients as well. This project is designed to determine baseline concentrations of these biomarkers in urine of clinically normal dogs, to evaluate the effect of blood contamination for samples acquired by cystocentesis, and to perform stability studies to evaluate how stable IL-18 and KIM-1 are in stored urine.