When reviewing more than 1 million chemistry profiles run on medical cases (i.e. sick visits, rechecks and preanaesthetic profiles, but excluding wellness visits) at IDEXX reference labs, increased SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) was the third most common abnormality, observed in 17% of chemistry profiles6. In addition, while SDMA and creatinine should always be run concurrently, increased creatinine only occurred in 8% of cases as an abnormality.6
Assessing Kidney Function
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test is the gold standard for assessing kidney function, but this diagnostic is cumbersome and practitioners rarely perform this test. Historically, kidney function has been evaluated by determining a patient’s urea and creatinine levels, but SDMA testing is a more sensitive indicator of kidney function.1,2,5 This is because during protein degradation, SDMA is released into a patient’s blood and their kidneys excrete this biomarker.
SDMA testing has many benefits and is more sensitive and reliable than creatinine and urea.1-5 Understanding changes in a patient’s kidney function has implications that extend far beyond chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Why Test for SDMA in Unwell Patients?
The kidneys play an integral role in overall health and, therefore, fully understanding kidney function is a key pillar of medical assessment. Because SDMA concentration increases before creatinine or urea, it provides a more sensitive evaluation of a patient’s kidney health.2,5
When a patient presents to your veterinary practice for a medical issue, assessing their kidney health is critical so you can make informed and directed medical decisions. If primary kidney dysfunction is present, early identification and intervention may lead to a better prognosis and improved quality of life. When other illnesses are present, evaluating your patient’s kidney status can affect your treatment choices and long-term follow-up plans. It is also why it is recommended for wellness testing.
Understanding kidney status can affect treatment decisions and prognosis, especially when concurrent illness is present. Overall, SDMA can contribute to the evaluation of unwell patients in medical cases or during a procedure, and it ultimately provides additional confidence for clinical decisions, treatment and care and communication with pet owners.
Strengthen the Pillar
Kidneys play an essential role in patient health, so keeping a close eye on them can ensure better, longer lives for your clients’ furry friends. With this in mind, make SDMA testing an integral part of your practice’s routine health checks and strengthen this pillar of overall health.
References: https://www.thevetiverse.com/en/latest/sdma-references/
DVM
The views expressed are the authors own.
One CLIP, no extra steps
From October 2026, SDMA will be built directly into IDEXX’s core Catalyst™ chemistry CLIPs at no added cost. Simplified workflows and kidney health insight on every patient.
Learn more
Discover the four key patient types that can benefit most from SDMA testing. Download the SDMA 4 Patient Guide. Download the SDMA 4 Patient guide here
