Hypertriglyceridemia and Kidney Disease

[Earlsteffie]

High Triglycerides were detected in 'Steffie' long before her UPC and MA(Microalbuminuria) showed Chronic Kidney disease/Protein Loosing Nephropathy....AND.....'Steffie' WAS NOT obise, NOR was her Cholesterol level ever out of the normal range via blood tests. I believe that the blood test for triglycerides is a seperate test of regular blood profile tests, but Tony can verify this.

On every blood test paperwork, the attending DVM would state the 'Possible Causes' of the Hypertriglyceridemia. Of these causes, all were ruled out except for 'Nephrotic Syndrome'(Kidneys), BUT, the Vets NEVER said a word about the triglycerides being a 'Fore Notice' of Kidney function. I will assume that they were waiting for the antiquated MA or UPC test to show something. At one point in my many trips to the University Vet system, they had entered a comment that they assumed that the problem was 'Primary'. From everything that I have read, Hypertriglyceridemia is DEFINITELY associated with Kidney Disease.

As you know, hind sight is 20/20, and it will always haunt me WHY I didn't press the issue on this with the vets. Steffie was of course prescribed 'Gemfibrozil' and it kept the levels down in the 500-~700 range. It would always fluctuate. Originally, the reading was ~1,000.

Point in case,........it is a fact that the present tools DVM use to detect Kidney function problems are antiquated whereby detection is MUCH TOO LATE. Hoping against hope, this SDMA test in near future will help, hopefully, BUT, I question whether or not a 'High Triglyceride reading is ALSO a 'Prenotice' of bad kidneys?

Tony, have you ever had anyone write in on this forum and state that their dogs ALSO had a triglyceride problem, or have you personally seen such??

Thanks,

Earl

[Earlsteffie]

Hi Tony, Yes, you are so right. I will tell you that it isn't easy for me to discuss my situation. I simply would sell my soul if I could JUST GET MY STEFFIE BACK. I'm sure you can appreciate this as well, including all here that have sustained losses from CKD. But, it would be selfish on my part to hold back or isolate any potential contributory help.

Yes, I too have a very curious nature, and having a science degree, I've done nothing BUT analyze things my entire professional/personal life.

The earliest possible detection of CKD is KING.

Thanks,

Earl

[tonyb286]

Hi. The problem we all have is ... we are human with human frailties, we have busy lives and never enough time, and we rely heavily on those we deem ought to know more about our best friends' health. It often takes a disaster or a wake-up-call to draw our interest towards any particular thing, hence my involvement in canine kidney failure. Without the natural curiosity I have, and without having had to deal with it some years ago with my own dog, I may never have paid the close attention to research and blood levels that I do now.

And despite knowing much more about the illness now than I did before, I recognise I know very little about other just as dangerous illnesses that dogs can get. My MedHelp friends are often called on by me, because some of them focus on different issues and are always willing to offer information, expertise and support. This is a fabulous community - and still very much needed when dark shadows roam towards us.

And now you're amongst us, I hope you will stay for as long as you are able and offer support and personal knowledge to others.

Regards

Tony

[Earlsteffie]

Thanks a bunch Tony. I figured that would be the case in what you say about all that write in.

I look forward to hearing back from you as to what your Vet says about the SDMA test.

As we both know as per looking at Steffie's triglyceride situation,.......yes, one could use it as a 'pre-notice' of 'Present' CKD, BUT, a Vet can only diagnose with the only 'Present' tools he/she has to work with,......and those 'Present' tools are absolutely 'out of date' and 'too late'.

Sadly though, the SDMA Test will not cure the problem of CKD, BUT, it might pave the way to opening other areas in research, plus, no doubt, extend our 'Best Friend's' lives much, much longer than what they have now.

I just wish more people would get more involved.....educate themselves with what their dog's blood tests mean, etc, etc......Seems as though our society, more so now than ever, pay to have everything 'fixed' and refuse to get their hands dirty and/or learn.

Oh well, it is what it is.

Regards,

Earl

[tonyb286]

Hi. Yes, I agree with you. A high Triglyceride count would certainly raise suspicions in most vets that there may be a kidney problem, and certainly when all other potential causes have been discounted. Most people that post tend to ask about creatine, BUN and other common numbers and it is very rare for anyone to detail the Triglyceride count. So, although people may not mention it (partly because kidney failure has already been diagnosed and confirmed by that stage), it is a common symptom well known to vets.

Of course, the SDMA test is promising and potentially very useful. My own well-trusted vet is away on leave at the moment, but I am expecting him to respond about SDMA in due course.

Tony

[Earlsteffie]

Thanks Tony. As I had mentioned, Steffie had been cleared of all primary causes IF the Triglyceride problem was of 'Secondary' problem,.....thereby, in the end, all the Vets looked at it as 'Primary'.

I was just interested to know if, you have had anyone write in to you that mentioned their dog having a such problem along with the CKF. Im other words, I'm under the strong assumption tha, in Steffie's case, the problem was a direct pre-notice of CKD AFTER all other possible primary causes were eliminated. Just like this SDMA Test,......it will complicate the situation of the past norm of what vets have used to 'DETECT', but at a very much earlier time, which is desperately needed, as we all know.

[tonyb286]

Hi Earl.

There are in fact a number of illnesses and conditions that are known to have high Triglycerides as a common symptom. Over and above obese dogs and dogs with diabetes, these include hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, chronic liver disease, elevated corticosteroid levels (usually brought about by medications or an over-active adrenal gland, also known as Cushing's Disease) AND (not typical, but not uncommon either) chronic kidney disease.

It is when there is a combination of common symptoms and blood results that a vet would ordinarily advise further and/or repeat tests and come to a suspicion of kidney failure. Typically, this would include high blood pressure and high Triglycerides along with protein in a urinalysis.

I think what I'm trying to say is ... part of a good vet's job is to act as health detective, taking the symptoms and test results and analysing them for trends and abnormalities, and then discounting various potential causes one by one. Not all vets are methodical and many work on hunches based on knowledge and experience, which is not always the best way to do things. It's the combination of test results and symptoms (and sometimes genetic factors, such as the breed of dog) that invariably point a good vet to the right conclusion.

Tony