Point prevalence and clinical course of proteinuria in dogs with idiopathic non‐erosive immune‐mediated polyarthritis

OBJECTIVES: To describe the point prevalence and clinical course of proteinuria in dogs diagnosed with idiopathic non‐erosive immune‐mediated polyarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases presenting to a single referral centre with a diagnosis of idiopathic non‐erosive immune‐mediated polyarthritis were retrospectively recruited from January 2009 to August 2018. Data including signalment, urinalysis, clinicopathological results, cytology from arthrocentesis, treatment and long‐term follow‐up were analysed. Dogs were defined as: non‐proteinuric (UPC <0.2), borderline proteinuric (UPC 0.2‐0.5) or overtly proteinuric (UPC >0.5). RESULTS: Fifty‐eight dogs met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐two dogs were overtly proteinuric (38%), eight dogs were borderline proteinuric (14%) and 28 dogs were non‐proteinuric (48%). Repeated urinalysis was performed in nine of 12 dogs with UPC greater than 2.0. The UPC decreased in all nine dogs, with the UPC decreasing to less than 0.5 in 44% of dogs. A greater than 50% decrease in UPC was noted in 44% of dogs, despite seven of nine (77%) receiving prednisolone as either monotherapy or in conjunction with an adjunctive immunosuppressive medication. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Proteinuria was common in this cohort of dogs diagnosed with primary idiopathic non‐erosive immune‐mediated polyarthritis. The use of prednisolone does not appear to be contraindicated in proteinuric dogs with idiopathic non‐erosive immune‐mediated polyarthritis.