The prevalence of malignant neoplasia in feline renal-transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of malignant neoplasia in a group of feline renal-transplant recipients (FRTR).


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
Ninety-five consecutive client-owned FRTR treated at the University of California, Davis, between 1987 and 1997.


METHODS
Medical records of the 95 cats were examined. The time to occurrence and type of malignant neoplasia, if present, was determined.


RESULTS
Nine of 95 cats (9.5%) developed apparently de novo malignant neoplasia after receiving renal allografts. The predominant type of neoplasm was lymphoma. The median time to diagnosis of neoplasia in these 9 patients was 9.0 months after transplantation, whereas the median survival time was 14.0 months after transplantation. This compares with a median survival time of 22 months after transplantation for cats that died for reasons other than development of malignant neoplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these transplant recipients were not compared with a control population, it would appear that, as in humans, malignant neoplasia is encountered with greater-than-expected frequency after renal transplantation and immunosuppression in cats.


CONCLUSIONS
The apparent propensity to develop malignant neoplasia after renal transplantation and immunosuppression in cats is a fatal complication of which owners and clinicians should be aware.
Wooldridge
John D
JD
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Gregory
Clare R
CR
Mathews
Kyle G
KG
Aronson
Lillian R
LR
Kyles
Andrew E
AE
D000818:Animals; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000662:veterinary*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015995:Prevalence; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis