Feline Circulating Protein Panel for Early CKD Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats are limited by sensitivity and specificity, particularly for early-stage CKD, due to inaccuracies in serum creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) assays, and the impracticality of glomerular filtration rate measurement for routine veterinary practice.

Innovation Solution

The use of seven feline circulating proteins - adiponectin (ADIPOQ), cathelicidin (CAMP), kinesin-like protein (KIF12), plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4), Ig-like domain-containing protein (ZKSCAN1), coagulation factor X (F10), and fibronectin (FN1) - as biomarkers for early-stage CKD, allowing for more accurate diagnosis through measurement and comparison to predetermined values or ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If serum creatinine and SDMA assays are used for CKD diagnosis, then diagnostic capability is provided, but sensitivity and specificity are limited particularly for early-stage CKD

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic sensitivity and specificityVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy for early-stage CKD
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the diagnostic parameters from traditional serum creatinine and SDMA to a panel of seven circulating proteins (adiponectin, cathelicidin, kinesin-like protein, plasma retinol-binding protein, Ig-like domain-containing protein, coagulation factor X, and fibronectin). This parameter change enables detection of early-stage CKD with higher sensitivity and specificity, as these proteins show altered concentrations before traditional markers become abnormal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite diagnostic approach by combining seven different circulating proteins into a diagnostic panel. This composite strategy leverages the complementary information from multiple proteins to achieve superior diagnostic accuracy compared to single markers, allowing for more reliable early-stage CKD detection through pattern recognition across the protein panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If glomerular filtration rate measurement is used as gold standard, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but measurement time and complexity become prohibitive for routine veterinary practice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex, time-consuming gold standard GFR measurement with a rapid circulating protein panel assay that can be processed quickly using standard veterinary laboratory equipment. This disposable-like approach uses readily available blood samples and automated protein quantification methods, eliminating the need for lengthy clearance tests while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy for early-stage CKD.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If multiple blood samplings are performed to diagnose Stage 1 CKD, then diagnostic certainty is improved, but diagnostic efficiency and practicality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic certaintyVSAvoiddiagnostic efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by using a circulating protein panel that provides high diagnostic sensitivity in a single blood sampling event. The selected proteins (adiponectin, cathelicidin, kinesin-like protein, plasma retinol-binding protein, Ig-like domain-containing protein, coagulation factor X, and fibronectin) are chosen because their altered concentrations provide sufficient diagnostic certainty for early-stage CKD without requiring follow-up samplings, thus improving efficiency while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250035648A1Compositions and methods for diagnosing and/or treating chronic kidney disease
Publication Date: 2025.01.30 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

Compositions and methods diagnose and/or treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) using one or more feline circulating proteins as markers for early-stage CKD. A method of diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a feline can include measuring an amount of each of at least one circulating protein from the feline. The at least one circulating protein is one or more of adiponectin (ADIPOQ), cathelicidin (CAMP), kinesin-like protein (KIF12), plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4), Ig-like domain-containing protein (ZKSCAN1), coagulation factor X (F10), fibronectin (FN1) and mixtures thereof. The method also includes performing comparison of the amount of each of the at least one circulating protein from the feline to a corresponding predetermined value or a corresponding predetermined range. The method also includes diagnosing the feline as having early-stage CKD or not having early-stage CKD, based on the comparison.