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PLASMA
(BLOOD) UREA CONCENTRATIONS - PITFALLS IN INTERPRETATION
First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk
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This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your
veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the
diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet. Measurement
of plasma (or blood) urea concentrations are widely used to aid diagnosis in
clinical veterinary practice - but there are several non-disease processes
which can cause the amount of urea to fall above or below the "normal
range" and these need to be eliminated as causes : Non-clinical
causes of INCREASED blood urea
- High dietary protein intake
- Inadequate calorie intake
- Prolonged exercise
- Exposure to catabolic drugs (eg
corticosteroids)
- Decreased anabolism (eg tetracyclines)
Non-clinical causes of DECREASED blood urea
- Low dietary protein intake
- Use of anabolic drugs (eg anabolic
steroids)
Other Pitfalls in Interpretation to watch
out for are :
- Blood strip tests do not give accurate
values
- Oxalate anticoagulant in collection bottles
will give false high readings
- Exposure to ammonia or tobacco smoke will
affect strip tests
- The following drugs have been reported to
cause false elevations of BUN
- Aluminium containing antacids
- Amphotericin B
- Arsenicals
- Bacitracin
- Calcium containing antacids
- Cephaloridine
- Chloral hydrate
- Chlorthalidone
- Colistin
- Corticosteroids
- Dextrothyroxine
- Ethacrynic acid
- Furosemide
- Gentamicin
- Indomethacin
- Kanamycin
- Magnesium containing antacids
- Methicillin
- Methocarbamol
- Nafcillin
- Neomycin
- Nicotinic acid
- Oxacillin
- Polymixin B
- Propranolol
- Spironolactone
- Stilbophen
- Streptokinase
- Sulfonamides
- Tetracyclines
- Triamterene
- Vancomycin
- Radiographic contrast media
- The following drugs have been reported to
cause a false decrease in blood urea :
Updated January 2016
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