Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for worsening kidney disease in cats with azotemia
By Chakrabarti, S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2012·Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, United Kingdom·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Clinicopathological variables predicting progression of azotemia in cats with chronic kidney disease.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 213 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was monitored to see how quickly their condition worsened. Nearly half of these cats showed signs of progression within a year, especially those with high levels of phosphate in their blood and protein in their urine. Cats diagnosed in earlier stages of CKD were more likely to progress if they had low red blood cell counts or high urine protein levels. Understanding these risk factors can help veterinarians manage the disease and potentially slow its progression.
People also search for: cat chronic kidney disease symptoms · cat kidney disease progression · high urine protein in cats · cat kidney disease treatment options
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in geriatric cats, but often appears to be stable for long periods of time. OBJECTIVES: To describe CKD progression and identify risk factors for progression in newly diagnosed azotemic cats. ANIMALS: A total of 213 cats with CKD (plasma creatinine concentration > 2 mg/dL, urine specific gravity < 1.035) were followed up until progression occurred or for at least 1 year; 132, 73, and 8 cats were in International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stages 2, 3, and 4, respectively. METHODS: Progression was defined as a 25% increase in plasma creatinine concentration. Logistic regression was used to assess variables at diagnosis that were associated with progression within 1 year. Changes in IRIS stage during follow-up also were described. Cases that remained in stages 2 or 3, but did not have renal function assessed in the last 60 days of life, were excluded from analysis of the proportion reaching stage 4. RESULTS: Of the cats, 47% (101) progressed within 1 year of diagnosis. High plasma phosphate concentration and high urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) predicted progression in all cats. Low PCV and high UPC independently predicted progression in stage 2 cats, whereas higher plasma phosphate concentration predicted progression in stage 3 cats; 19% (18/94) of cats diagnosed in stage 2; and 63% (34/54) of cats diagnosed in stage 3 reached stage 4 before they died. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria, anemia, and hyperphosphatemia may reflect more progressive kidney disease. Alternatively, they may be markers for mechanisms of progression such as tubular protein overload, hypoxia, and nephrocalcinosis.
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/22269057/