Clinicopathologic findings associated with chronic renal disease in cats: 74 cases (1973–1984)

TLDR

The study reviewed historic, physical, laboratory, and histologic data from 74 cats diagnosed with chronic renal disease. Older cats showed no breed or sex bias; owners noted lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss, while physical exams revealed dehydration and emaciation; laboratory tests frequently detected nonregenerative anemia, lymphopenia, azotemia, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic acidosis, hyperphosphatemia, and isosthenuria, with chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis of unknown cause being the most common diagnosis, followed by renal lymphosarcoma, amyloidosis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, polycystic disease, and FIP‑associated pyogranulomatous nephritis.

Abstract

The historic, physical, laboratory, and histologic findings for 74 cats with chronic renal disease were reviewed. Most cats were older, and no breed or sex predilection was detected. This most common clinical signs detected by owners were lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Dehydration and emaciation were common physical examination findings. Common laboratory findings were nonregenerative anemia, lymphopenia, azotemia, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic acidosis, hyperphosphatemia, and isosthenuria. The most common morphologic diagnosis was chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis of unknown cause. The other pathologic diagnoses were renal lymphosarcoma, renal amyloidosis, chronic pyelonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, polycystic renal disease, and pyogranulomatous nephritis secondary to feline infectious peritonitis.