Polycystic kidney disease in a Persian cat

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited condition in Persian cats, characterised by progressive displacement of normal renal parenchyma by cys ts of various size. In this report, a case of bilateral PKD diagnosed in a five-year-old Persian cat is described. This cat was uraemic and proteinuri c. Both of its kidneys were irregular on palpation. Diagnostic imaging and particularly ultrasonography revealed a bilateral but asymmetric renomegaly with anechoic lesions throughout the renal parenchyma. The cat was put on a supportive and symptomatic treatment in order to slow down the detrimenta l consequences of chronic renal failure but after a week of progressive det erioration the owner elected to have the cat euthanised. Necropsy revealed, besides the renal disease, the presence of liver cysts non-associated with liver pathology. Renal histopathology except of the cysts showed interstit ial nephritis and glomerular sclerosis.