# Prevalence of Proteinuria in Dogs With Immune‐Mediated Disease

## TL;DR

This study finds that many dogs with immune diseases have protein in their urine, especially if they have symptoms like fever or joint issues.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the prevalence of proteinuria in dogs with immune-mediated diseases, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic marker.

## Key findings

- Proteinuria is common in dogs with immune-mediated disease, with 44% having severe proteinuria.
- Dogs with pyrexia or hemoglobinuria are more likely to have proteinuria.
- Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis is associated with higher proteinuria levels.

## Abstract

Proteinuria is associated with autoimmune diseases in humans. There is minimal evidence in the veterinary literature on proteinuria and its association with immune‐mediated disease in dogs.

Renal proteinuria is common in dogs with immune‐mediated disease. Dogs presenting with pyrexia or immune‐mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) are more likely to have proteinuria.

One hundred and forty‐four dogs with primary immune‐mediated diseases.

Retrospective, observational study. Data collected included signalment, travel outside the United Kingdom, duration of clinical signs, diagnosis, urinalysis, and urine protein–creatinine ratio (UPCR). Non‐proteinuric, mild proteinuria, moderate proteinuria, and severe proteinuria were defined as UPCR < 0.5; ≥ 0.5–1; ≥ 1–2; ≥ 2, respectively. Exclusion criteria included azotemia, hypoalbuminemia (< 2.0 g/dL), foreign travel, active urine sediment or positive culture, glucocorticoid therapy for greater than 24 h prior to presentation, or medication known to influence UPCR.

Sixty‐seven dogs were non‐proteinuric (47%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 38%, 55%), 25 mildly proteinuric (17%; 95% CI: 9%, 26%), 15 moderately proteinuric (10%; 95% CI: 2%, 19%), and 37 severely proteinuric (26%; 95% CI: 17%, 34%). On multiple logistic regression analysis, female dogs (odds ratio [OR]: 3.24; 95% CI: 1.49, 7.42), individuals with pyrexia (OR: 6.59; 95% CI: 3.00, 15.37), or hemoglobinuria (OR: 27.21; 95% CI: 4.79, 516.56) were more likely to have proteinuria. There was an association between steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis and the magnitude of proteinuria on multiple linear regression (p = 0.025); this was not confirmed on multiple logistic regression.

Proteinuria is common in dogs with immune‐mediated disease and can be severe. Screening for proteinuria could be considered part of the diagnostic assessment for dogs with immune‐mediated disease.