Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Improving kidney treatment in pets with clogged catheters
By Langston, C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Bobst Hospital of the Animal Medical Center, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Use of tissue plasminogen activator in catheters used for extracorporeal renal replacement therapy.
Plain-English summary
A group of 8 cats with kidney failure had problems with their dialysis catheters not working properly. To help, veterinarians used a medication called alteplase, which is designed to clear blockages in the catheters. After treatment, most of the cats showed improved blood flow through the catheters, allowing for better dialysis sessions. However, the improvements were temporary, and some cats needed the treatment more than once.
People also search for: cat kidney failure dialysis · alteplase for catheters · why is my cat not responding to dialysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intraluminal thrombosis of central venous catheters used for renal replacement therapy (RRT) decreases the ability to provide adequate treatment. Alteplase is a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator that has been used to improve the function of catheters used for RRT in humans. OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively review alteplase instillation in dysfunctional catheters used for RRT in dogs and cats. ANIMALS: Seventeen dogs and 8 cats receiving RRT for kidney failure. METHODS: Medical records of patients in which alteplase was used for RRT catheter dysfunction from 2004 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed to characterize reasons for use, improvement in function, increase in blood flow, and duration of improvement. RESULTS: Alteplase was instilled 43 times in 29 catheters, most commonly because of suspicion that the catheter would not provide sufficient flow on the next treatment (n = 21). The second most common reason was inability to start a dialysis treatment (n = 12). Catheter function improved after alteplase instillation in 34 of 43 treatments (79%). Median blood flow rate increased by 13% (18 mL/min) in the dialysis session after alteplase instillation. Seven of 29 catheters (24%) were treated with alteplase on >1 occasion (median time to second treatment, 8 days), and 1 catheter had to be replaced because of intractable dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Alteplase is effective at improving function of central venous catheters used to provide RRT, but the results are short-lived.
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/24438008/