M. T. Antognoni

Use of serum cistatin C determination as a marker of renal function in the dog.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as an expression of renal function (RF), can be evaluated through the clearance of endogenous and exogenous substances. However, as this method must be validated for clinical veterinary practice, urea (sUr) and creatinine (sCr) serum levels are usually determined in order to evaluate RF. Since sUr and sCr values can also be influenced by extra-renal factors, research in human medicine (Randers and Erlandsen, 1997) over several years has led to consider serum levels of cystatin C (cCys-C) as a significant marker for RF. Cys-C is a low molecular weight (14 kD) basic protein of the cystatin superfamily, inhibitors of cystein-proteases, which is produced at a constant rate by all nucleated cells. Cys-C is filtered at the glomerular level and reabsorbed and catabolized completely by the cells of the proximal tubule, so much that its haematic concentration is not influenced by extra-renal factors (diet, muscular mass, etc.) (Randers and Erlandsen, 1997). Based on consideration of the data acquired on the clinical significance of sCys-C evaluation in humans (Aksun et al., 2004; Delanaye et al., 2003; Mars et al., 2003; Massey, 2004; Randers and Erlandsen, 1997) and from the limited reports in veterinary medicine, (Almy et al., 2002; Braun et al., 2002; Jensen et al., 2001), we wanted to verify whether CysC could also be determined in the blood serum of dogs by applying the same methodology used in human medicine and if its eventual variations could indicate decreased RF.

Serum Cystatin-C Evaluation in Dogs Affected by Different Diseases Associated or Not with Renal Insufficiency

Antognoni, M.T., Siepi, D., Porciello, F., Rueca, F. and Fruganti, G., 2007. Serum cystatin-C evaluation in dogs affected by different diseases associated or not with renal insufficiency. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 269–271

Characteristic clinical, haematological and histopathological findings in feline mastocytoma

M.T. Antognoni1*, A. Spaterna2, E. Lepri3, A. Fruganti2 and F. Laus2 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia; 2Department of Veterinary Sciences, Clinical Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino; 3Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy *Correspondence: Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126-Perugia, Italy E-mail: mta@unipg.it

Blood Pressure Measurements in Dogs and Horses Using the Oscillometric Technique: Personal Observations

F. Porciello, F. Birettoni, M.B. Conti, C. Marinetti, M.T. Antognoni and G. Fruganti Department of Clinical Sciences – Section of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia *Correspondence: Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria – Sezione di Medicina Interna – Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, V ia S. Costanzo 4, 06126 – Perugia, Italy E-mail: fp1@unipg.it

Acute undifferentiated leukaemia in a dog

BACKGROUND Acute undifferentiated leukaemia (AUL) is considered a separate entity in the context of acute leukaemias. AUL is extremely rare in both humans and dogs, has a rapid clinical course and does not respond to treatment. It is characterised by the presence of blast cells within the bone marrow and/or peripheral blood at levels ≥ 20% and even up to 100% of all nucleated cells. Blast cells are unable to be differentiated on morphological, cytochemical and phenotypic criteria into myeloid or lymphoid lineages because of their immaturity and/or atypia. CASE REPORT An 8-year-old German Shepherd dog was referred for depression, asthenia, mild anaemia, thrombocytopenia and marked leucocytosis. Abdominal ultrasound showed hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, bilateral nephromegaly and enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes. Echocardiography revealed biventricular hypertrophy with abnormal tissue density of the myocardium. Blood and bone marrow smears were composed of 95% unclassifiable and/or atypical blast cells and signs of dysplasia of the erythroid and thrombocytic/megakaryocytic lineages were present. Blast cells were negative for all cytochemical stains used and flow cytometry of peripheral blood revealed 85% of total leucocytes consisting of small-to-medium-sized cells, negative for all lymphoid and myeloid markers except CD45 and CD34. After necropsy, cytology and histology revealed that blast cells had diffusely infiltrated all tissues examined. Both erythroid and megakaryocytic extramedullary haemopoiesis was also detected in the spleen, lymph nodes and liver. All immunohistochemical stains used were negative. CONCLUSION On the basis of all the results, a diagnosis of acute leukaemia involving a very primitive haematopoietic precursor was made.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Five Dogs: Clinical Findings and Cytochemical Characterization

M.T. Antognoni1*, V. Mangili1, A. Spaterna2 and G. Fruganti1 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia; 2Department of Veterinary Sciences, Clinical Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy *Correspondence: Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Sezione di Medicina Interna, Facolta di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita di Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy E-mail: mta@unipg.it