Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Iron levels in cats with chronic kidney disease compared to healthy
By Gest, J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2015·Animal Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Iron Status of Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was studied to understand their iron levels, especially since anemia (low red blood cell count) is common in these cats. The research found that while the overall iron levels were similar between anemic and nonanemic cats, those with anemia had lower transferrin saturation, which suggests they might not be using iron effectively. This indicates that iron deficiency is a concern for anemic cats with CKD, but it seems to be more about how the body is using iron rather than a lack of iron itself. If your cat has CKD and shows signs of anemia, it’s important to discuss iron status with your vet.
People also search for: cat chronic kidney disease anemia · cat iron deficiency treatment · signs of anemia in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a proposed mechanism for the anemia that occurs in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Minimal research investigating the iron status of these cats has been performed. OBJECTIVE: To compare indicators of iron status in cats with CKD versus healthy cats and cats with nonrenal illness (NRI). To compare indicators of iron status in anemic versus nonanemic cats with CKD. ANIMALS: Thiry-nine client or employee owned healthy cats, 40 cats with CKD and 34 cats with NRI included. METHODS: Exclusion criteria included prior iron or erythropoiesis stimulating agent administration, blood transfusion, or concurrent CKD and NRI. Complete blood counts, serum chemistries, serum iron concentrations, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and ferritin concentrations were measured and percent transferrin saturation (TSAT) calculated on all cats. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical testing. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were detected among groups for iron concentration (P = .50), ferritin concentration (P = .47), or TSAT (P = .19). TIBC was significantly lower in CKD (median 262 μg/dL; IQR 233-302; range 165-488) versus healthy cats (median 316 μg/dL; IQR 272-345, range 196-464); (P = .0030). When comparing anemic (hemoglobin <9.5 g/dL) versus nonanemic cats with CKD, TSAT was significantly lower (P = .033) in anemic (median 20.2%; IQR 17.8-34.5; range 17.6-35.9) compared to nonanemic (median 29.0%; IQR 25.5-44.1; range 11.5-94.4). No statistically significant differences found for ferritin concentration (P = .94), iron concentration (P = .21) or TIBC (P = .97). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These results indicate that an iron deficient state exists in anemic cats with CKD and is more likely functional rather than absolute.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26417695/