Risk factors associated with renal insufficiency in horses with primary gastrointestinal disease: 26 cases (2000-2003).
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with renal insufficiency in colic- or colitis-affected horses with high serum creatinine (SCr) concentrations evaluated at a referral hospital.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
167 colic- or colitis-affected horses (88 represented a random sample [hospital population], and 79 had high SCr concentration at initial evaluation [study population]).


METHODS
Medical records were reviewed. Data collected included signalment; physical examination, clinicopathologic, and diagnostic findings; and outcome. The study population was categorized on the basis of whether SCr concentration did (AR group; n = 53) or did not (PA group; 26) normalize within 72 hours of fluid therapy. Characteristics of the study and hospital populations were compared.


RESULTS
Males and Quarter Horses were significantly overrepresented in the study population. Compared with the hospital population, study-population horses were significantly more likely to have colitis, gastric reflux, and diarrhea at initial evaluation. Initial mean SCr concentration in the PA group was significantly higher than the AR group; identification of gastric reflux, abnormal rectal examination findings, and hypochloremia were significantly associated with persistent azotemia after 72 hours of fluid therapy. Compared with the AR group, PA group horses were 3 times as likely to die or be euthanized.


CONCLUSIONS
In colic- or colitis-affected horses, factors associated with renal insufficiency included gastric reflux, abnormal rectal examination findings, or hypochloremia initially; prognosis for horses in which azotemia resolves within 72 hours of treatment appears to be better than for horses with persistent azotemia.
Groover
Erin S
ES
Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
Woolums
Amelia R
AR
Cole
Dana J
DJ
LeRoy
Bruce E
BE
D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000662:veterinary
D003404:Creatinine