Preliminary evaluation of hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1/kidney injury molecule 1 in healthy horses treated with phenylbutazone

ObjectivesTo investigate if hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1/kidney injury molecule 1 (HAVCR1/KIM1) in urine is detectable concurrently with increases in serum creatinine concentrations in horses receiving a recommended dose of phenylbutazone (PBZ) for 7 days. DesignPreliminary study. MethodsTen clinically healthy horses with normal physical examination and laboratory work were randomly assigned to PBZ or placebo groups (5 each). The PBZ group received PBZ at 4.4 mg/kg mixed with corn syrup orally every 12 hours. The placebo group received corn syrup orally every 12 hours. Both groups were treated for 7 days. Kidney ultrasonography was performed, and venous blood and urine samples were collected prior to commencement and at the end of treatment. Samples from 1 additional healthy horse, 3 horses with acute kidney failure, and 1 horse with chronic kidney failure were also evaluated. ResultsNone of the 10 horses had detectable HAVCR1/KIM1 in urine at baseline. Serum creatinine concentrations in placebo group did not increase, and HAVCR1/KIM1 was undetectable in urine. At the end of treatment, 3 of 5 horses receiving PBZ developed increases in serum creatinine of >26.5 & mu;mol/L (>0.3 mg/dL), and HAVCR1/KIM1 was detectable in urine, despite normal findings on kidney ultrasonography in all horses. ConclusionsHAVCR1/KIM1 is detectable in urine and is associated with increases in serum creatinine concentrations of >26.5 & mu;mol/L in horses following treatment with PBZ for 7 consecutive days. Thus, HAVCR1/KIM1 might aid in the early detection of acute kidney injury in horses.