From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-05-13 22:21:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Glomerulonefrite?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., cunine@y... wrote:
> Le analisi del sangue del mio furetto mostrano:
> a)Un livello di transaminasi(ALT) molto basso;
> b)Un livello di creatinina (CREAT)alto;
> c)Un livello di immunoglobuline alto rispetto la norma;
> d)All'esame ecografico si nota una cisti al rene sinistro;
> Vorrei sapere se si tratta di glomerulonefrite e se la terapia
adatta
> รจ una terapia antibiotica.
> Aiutatemi perfavore!
> Marzia
>
> (Moderator took the liberty of translation If anyone can get closer
please feel free)
>
>
>
> My ferrets blood test show:
> a) very low ALT
> b) high creatinine
> c) immunoglobuline high in respect to the norm.
> d) echograph (ultra sound?) noted one cyst to the left kidney
>
> I would like to know if draft of "glomerulonefrite" and antibiotic
therapy
> are (literally "adapted is one") the same thing or of the same
value.
Dear Marze
In the spirit of international relations - I'll take a stab at this,
but don't expect me to say it in Italian.
Of course, it is always much beter to know the exact levels of blood
values rather than a simple "high" or "low". The very low ALT is not
significant - this is an enzyme that only is important when it is
elevated. The high creatinine is of some concern - it is a compund
normally excreted by the kidney - when it is high it suggests that
there might be kidney damage (but there are other compounds that also
should be elevated in the bloodwork to make this diagnosis which you
don't mention.
Single cysts on one kidney are common and not the cause of your
ferrets problem.
Now you mention that the immunoglobulins are high - how high are
they? In Aleutian disease, we commonly see elevated immunoglobulins
and glomerulonephritis. Now you mention glomerulonephritis but do
not discuss how this diagnosis was reached. Glomeulonephritis is a
very specific disease which is accompanied by loss of protein in the
urine. I am wondering if your vet has actually diagnosed this, or is
simply making a diagnosis of kidney disease.
Most cases of kidney disease (and all cases of glomerulonephritis)
are not responsive to antibiotics.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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