Disorder - Glomerulonephritis

Organ Systems Involved
Urogenital

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Protein-losing nephropathy; Nephrotic syndrome

Alternative Names
Feline glomerulonephritis

Presenting Signs

Glomerulonephritis is a disease of the microscopic filtration units of the kidneys (glomeruli). It is caused when the cat’s own immune system attacks its kidneys – this is known as immune-mediated disease. This attack on the glomeruli can occur as a part of a more widespread disease involving immune-mediated damage throughout the cat’s body, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. It can also be termed idiopathic if an underlying disease cannot be found.

Normal glomeruli are able to selectively filter substances from the blood (such as waste products of metabolism) to form urine. In glomeruli damaged by immune-mediated attack, larger blood components are able to pass through. This results in loss of proteins into the urine, along with excessive amounts of water. As a result, cats with glomerulonephritis show signs associated with low protein in the blood, such as fluid accumulation in the limbs and abdomen. When 75 per cent of the glomeruli are damaged, cats begin to urinate large amounts of dilute urine, and have to drink water in large amounts to compensate. These cats eventually develop chronic renal failure and develop signs of vomiting and inappetence, due to build-up of waste products in the blood.

Treatment

Medical: treatment involves feeding a low protein diet to reduce protein lost in urine, as well as medical treatment with immune-system suppressing drugs. Supportive medical therapy may be administered as required, e.g. diuretics to reduce fluid accumulation.

PubMed References
Glomerulonephritis

Contributor
Holly Boyden