Clinicopathologic characteristics, pathology, and prognosis of 77 dogs with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of nonimmune complex glomerulopathy and the prognosis and clinicopathologic findings associated with this condition have not been described in dogs. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the presentation and identify clinical factors associated with the survival of dogs with FSGS. ANIMALS: Seventy-seven dogs diagnosed with FSGS based on evaluation of renal biopsy samples submitted to the International Veterinary Renal Pathology Service. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of dogs biopsied for evaluation of proteinuria between January 2015 and May 2017. RESULTS: The incidence of FSGS among all dogs biopsied for proteinuria was 26%. Significantly more females (48; 62.3%) than males (29; 37.7%) were affected (P = .04). At the time of biopsy, median serum creatinine concentration (SCr) was 1.2 mg/dL (range, 0.3-8.7), median serum albumin concentration (Alb) was 2.8 g/dL (range, 1.1-4.6), median systolic blood pressure was 153.5&#x2009;mm&#x2009;Hg (range, 95-260), and median urine protein : creatinine ratio was 5.9 (range, 1.4-22). Median survival time after biopsy was 258&#x2009;days (range, 26-1003) for dogs that died from all causes (n = 32). Factors that were associated with a shorter survival time included SCr&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;2.1 mg/dL (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.01) and Alb&#x2009;<&#x2009;2 g/dL (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Most dogs with FSGS were female, and although commonly hypertensive, azotemia, severe hypoalbuminemia and ascites or edema were observed infrequently. Variables significantly associated with survival time were SCr and Alb.