Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Preliminary results of clinical renal allograft transplantation in the dog and cat.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 1987
- Authors:
- Gregory, C R et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgery · United States
Plain-English summary
In a study involving six dogs and cats with severe kidney failure, some underwent kidney transplants as a treatment option. Unfortunately, three of these pets did not survive after the surgery; one died from the body rejecting the new kidney, another had complications from previous treatments and infections, and the third was put to sleep because the owners could not manage the care needed for a transplant. The researchers concluded that more studies are needed to see if kidney transplants, along with specific medications to suppress the immune system, could be a viable option for pets with severe kidney disease. They emphasized that pets must be in stable health before surgery, and owners should be ready for the significant care and costs involved in looking after a pet with a transplanted kidney. Overall, the treatment did not work well in this small group of patients.
Abstract
Renal allograft transplantation was performed as treatment for terminal renal failure in six veterinary patients. Three patients failed to survive the postsurgical period, one patient died due to acute allograft rejection, one patient died subsequent to complications of previous parenteral hyperalimentation and infection, and one patient was euthanatized due to the inability of the clients to maintain the effort necessary to manage a transplant recipient. Further clinical studies are necessary to determine if renal transplantation with cyclosporine (cyclosporin A)/prednisolone immunosuppression has the potential to provide practical treatment of terminal renal disease in clinical veterinary medicine. Pharmacologic and immunologic monitoring of transplant recipients with individualized immunosuppression is imperative. Careful surveillance is necessary to identify and eliminate nosocomial sources of infection. Candidates for transplantation cannot be critically ill or malnourished prior to surgery, and pet owners must be prepared for the financial and time commitments associated with caring for a renal allograft recipient.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3333408/