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Natural sciences
- Animal morphology, anatomy and physiology
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem in older cats, the incidence is even higher in
cats with hyperthyroidism. Moreover, hyperthyroidism complicates the diagnosis of CKD as in the
majority of the hyperthyroid cats, the impaired kidney function is only detected several weeks after
treatment of hyperthyroidism. Early diagnosis of CKD is essential to provide adequate therapy,
which can dramatically improve prognosis. Renal function is reflected by the renal perfusion. Often,
changes in renal perfusion are present before an abnormal renal function is detectable. However,
quantification of renal perfusion is challenging. Techniques as computed tomography, magnetic
resonance and scintigraphy can all be used but they have several limitations as availability, costs and
exposure to radiation or nuclear tracers. A promising imaging technique for the evaluation of both
the macro- and microvasculature is contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). CEUS is a safe, costeffective
and fast method. Tiny, gas-filled microbubbles, stabilized by an outer shell, are injected
intravenously.
The general objective of this research project is to evaluate the renal function through several
perfusion parameters obtained by the use of quantitative CEUS before and after treatment of
hyperthyroid cats and to test that pre-treatment CEUS could serve as a predictive method for the
development of renal dysfunction.