Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound of the other kidney predicts long-term kidney health
By Pulido Vega, Diego et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Service of Diagnostic Imaging, France·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Association of preoperative ultrasonographic parameters of the contralateral kidney with long-term serum creatinine in cats treated for unilateral ureteral obstruction.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 60 cats with a blocked ureter underwent surgery to relieve the obstruction. Researchers looked at ultrasound images of both kidneys before the surgery to see if they could predict how well the cats would recover in the long term. They found that a specific ultrasound score for the healthy kidney (the one not affected by the blockage) could help identify cats that might have more severe kidney issues later on. Cats with a higher score were more likely to end up with worse kidney function after treatment. This information can help vets make better decisions about treatment and care for cats with this condition.
People also search for: cat kidney disease ultrasound · cat ureter blockage treatment · how to treat cat kidney problems
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prediction of renal recovery after surgical management of feline unilateral ureteral obstruction (UO) is crucial to guide therapeutic decisions, but predictors of this outcome are still lacking. Despite the functional importance of the contralateral kidney, there is currently no precise description of its ultrasonographic (US) features. In addition, US parameters of both the renal collecting system and the renal parenchyma have been identified in human medicine as prognostic factors in the case of UO but have not been described in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate an association between preoperative structural US renal parameters and long-term International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage after successful renal decompression with subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device in cats with unilateral UO. METHODS: This retrospective study included 60 cats with unilateral UO and evaluated preoperative US parameters of both kidneys, including measurements of parenchymal and pelvic areas as well as a renal score. Cats were divided according to their serum creatinine at 3 months postoperatively into group A (IRIS stages I and II) and group B (IRIS stages III and IV). RESULTS: A higher US chronic kidney disease (US-CKD) score of the kidney contralateral to the UO was associated with long-term IRIS stages III and IV. It also appeared as a fair discriminator of long-term IRIS stage IV, with an area under the curve of 0.74. The optimal cutoff value for accurately identifying cats with long-term IRIS stage IV was a US-CKD score > 7, with a specificity of 98%, a sensitivity of 25%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 12.75. No preoperative US parameters regarding the obstructed kidney, including parenchymal and pelvic areas, were significantly associated with long-term creatinine. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic scoring of contralateral chronic kidney disease abnormalities is associated with IRIS stage following treatment of feline unilateral UO with a SUB device and serves as a specific indicator of cats presenting with long-term IRIS stage IV.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39911689/