Prognostic factors in cats with chronic kidney disease.
BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cats.


OBJECTIVE
Some baseline variables are associated with shorter survival times in cats with CKD.


METHODS
Client-owned cats.


METHODS
Cats with CKD with initial plasma creatinine concentration > or =2.0 mg/dL and urine specific gravity (USG) < or = 1.025 were recruited into a prospective clinical trial that compared benazepril with a placebo. We describe baseline variables in 190 cats and their influence on renal survival time in the placebo group (95 cats), which was followed for up to 1,097 days. Renal survival time was defined as the time from initiation of therapy to the need for parenteral fluid therapy, euthanasia, or death related to renal failure.


RESULTS
Of the 95 cats treated with a placebo, 58 were censored and 37 reached the renal survival end point (died, n = 0; euthanized, n = 17; parenteral fluids, n = 12; parenteral fluids followed by euthanasia, n = 8). Increased plasma creatinine concentration, increased urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), and increased blood leukocyte count were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were independent risk factors. Increased concentrations of plasma phosphate or urea, and lower blood hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were dependent risk factors, because they also were significantly (P < .01) correlated with plasma creatinine concentration at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Several variables were significantly associated with a shorter renal survival time in cats with CKD.
King
Jonathan N
JN
Novartis Animal Health Inc, Postfach, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland. jonathan.king@novartis.com
Tasker
Séverine
S
Gunn-Moore
Danielle A
DA
Strehlau
Günther
G
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D002415:Cats; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000662:veterinary; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010710:Phosphates; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; C044946:benazepril