Volumetric absorptive microsampling to measure iohexol and creatinine concentrations for estimation of glomerular filtration rate in cats: aligning animal welfare with practical feasibility.

Hanna De Baets, Marleen Brans, Dominique Paepe, Christophe P Stove

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Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

Can sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition preserve renal structure and function in de novo kidney transplant recipients? Protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy of dapagliflozin on kidney structure, function and safety in kidney transplant recipients in Norway-the DEAK study.BMJ open · 2026
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4 authors.

Hanna De BaetsLaboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Marleen BransSmall Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Dominique PaepeSmall Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Christophe P StoveLaboratory of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. christophe.stove@ugent.be.

Funding

Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent BOF22/DOC/302EveryCat Health Foundation CaPK22-013Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek 1SF6124N

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in cats, and early detection is crucial for better prognosis. Currently, the gold standard to assess renal function is the measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), allowing early detection of decreased kidney function. To overcome the practical limitations of this procedure, microsampling, collecting a small drop of blood from the cat's ear, can be used. Application of volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) in feline nephrology would be of tremendous value, aligning with animal welfare and improving practical feasibility of GFR measurements.

resultsWe developed and successfully validated liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods to simultaneously determine iohexol and creatinine in plasma, blood and VAMS samples. A clinical validation study, conducted in 23 cats from whom conventional venous blood, plasma and VAMS samples were collected, allowed to establish a conversion formula to derive plasma iohexol or creatinine concentrations from capillary VAMS concentrations. This conversion was applied on an independent set, revealing an excellent agreement for both iohexol and creatinine between concentrations directly measured in venous plasma or derived from ear-prick VAMS samples (94% and 96% of differences lay < 20%, respectively).

conclusionsWe demonstrated that ear-prick sampling using VAMS is a suitable alternative to conventional venous sampling to measure iohexol and creatinine for GFR determination in cats.

Indexed as

Blood Specimen CollectionCreatinineGlomerular Filtration RateIohexolAnimalsAnimal WelfareCat DiseasesCatsChromatography, LiquidContrast MediaFeasibility StudiesFemaleMaleRenal Insufficiency, ChronicTandem Mass SpectrometryContrast MediaCreatinineIohexolChronic kidney diseaseCreatinineGlomerular filtration rateIohexolLiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryVolumetric absorptive microsampling

Identifiers

PMID40289070

DOI10.1186/s12917-025-04748-2

PMCPMC12034177

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