Kg. Mathews et Cr. Gregory, RENAL-TRANSPLANTS IN CATS - 66 CASES (1987-1996), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 211(11), 1997, pp. 1432
Objective-To document the morbidity and survival time after renal tran
splants in cats with end-stage renal failure. Design-Retrospective cas
e series. Animals-66 cats that had renal transplants. Procedure-Inform
ation regarding signalment, history, diagnostic testing, and postopera
tive morbidity and mortality was retrieved from medical records of cat
s with renal failure that had renal transplants at the University of C
alifornia School of Veterinary Medicine between 1987 and 1996. Results
-47 of 66 (71%) cats that had renal transplants survived until dischar
ge. Nineteen cats died in the perioperative period. Most common causes
of death were seizure-related complications (7 cats) and renal pedicl
e complications (4). One discharged cat was unavailable for follow-up
monitoring. Of the 46 cats discharged and available for follow-up moni
toring, 28 died. Most common causes of death in these cats were renal
complications (9 cats) and death related to immunosuppression (8; mean
and median survival times, 15 and 12 months, respectively). Of the 18
cats that were still living at the time this report was written, mean
and median survival times were 26 and 22 months, respectively. Clinic
al Implications-Renal transplantation resulted in long-term survival o
f many cats that would have otherwise died from, or have been euthanat
ized as a result of, renal failure. Problems with ureteral obstruction
can be minimized. Postoperative CNS disorders were the most prevalent
complication.