New research highlights the survival rates of cats with ARF Photo: Madison Crawley

New research has highlighted the survival rates of cats with acute intrinsic renal failure (ARF).

Dr Stephanie Worwag, previously at the Animal Medical Center in New York, US, and Dr Cathy Langston looked at 32 cats with ARF between 1997 and 2004. The researchers considered patient demographics, clinicopathologic findings and outcomes associated with naturally acquired ARF. The animals studied met criteria including the acute onset of clinical signs, a serum creatinine concentration greater than 2.5mg/dL and no signs of chronic renal disease. The study excluded cats with renal calculi or renal neoplasia.

Study findings revealed that ARF causes include nephrotoxins (18 cats) and ischemia (four cats), with 10 cats contracting ARF for other reasons. Oliguria, reduced urine production, was present in 18 cats. The researchers noted that for each unit increase (mEq/L) in the initial potassium concentration, the chance of survival dropped by 57%. Low serum albumin or bicarbonate concentration at initial diagnosis was a negative prognostic indicator for survival, while other variables, such as concentrations of serum creatinine, were not prognostic.

A total of 17 cats in the study survived. Of these, azotemia, a condition characterized by abnormal levels of nitrogen-containing compounds such as urea or creatinine, was resolved in eight cats, and nine were discharged with persistent azotemia.

The study was published in the March 1st issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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