Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foal very tired, having seizures and diarrhea - what could be wrong?
By Zicker, S C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1990·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bilateral renal dysplasia with nephron hypoplasia in a foal.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A Quarter Horse foal was found to have serious kidney problems called bilateral renal dysplasia (abnormal kidney development) and nephron hypoplasia (underdeveloped kidney filtering units). The foal showed signs of being very tired, having seizures, and diarrhea. Blood tests showed issues like low red blood cells, low protein levels, and imbalances in sodium and chloride, along with high levels of waste products in the blood. Although the foal received intravenous fluids and antibiotics, these treatments only helped a little and temporarily. The diagnosis was confirmed through a kidney tissue biopsy and later at necropsy, revealing that while the kidneys looked normal in size and structure, the filtering units were significantly underdeveloped. Unfortunately, the treatment did not lead to a lasting improvement in the foal's condition.
Abstract
Bilateral renal dysplasia and nephron hypoplasia was diagnosed in a Quarter Horse foal with clinical signs of lethargy, convulsions, and diarrhea. Laboratory evaluation revealed anemia, hypoproteinemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hyposmolality. The foal also had high concentrations of serum creatinine, BUN, and phosphorus. Evaluation of urinary indices revealed a high ratio of urinary gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity to concentration of creatinine, as well as a high fractional clearance ratio of sodium and potassium. Intravenous treatment with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) and antimicrobials provided only temporary resolution of some of the abnormalities. Diagnosis was partly established by histologic evaluation of renal tissue obtained via an ultrasonographically guided biopsy and was confirmed at necropsy. Pathologic changes in the kidney were unique in that the size of the kidneys, along with the appearance and number of glomeruli, were essentially normal despite marked hypoplasia of nephron tubules in the medulla.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2365627/