A multicenter retrospective study of 151 renal biopsies in horses.
Abstract: Renal biopsies are uncommonly performed in horses and little is known about their diagnostic utility and associated complication rate. Objective: To describe the techniques, the complication rate, risk factors, and histopathology results; as well as evaluate the safety and diagnostic utility of renal biopsy in the horse. Methods: One hundred and forty-six horses from which 151 renal biopsies were obtained. Animals ranged in age from 48 hours to 30 years. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study, with participation of 14 institutions (1983-2009). Results: Renal biopsy in horses was associated with a similar rate of complications (11.3%) to that occurring in humans and companion animals. Complications were generally associated with hemorrhage or signs of colic, and required treatment in 3% of cases. Fatality rate was low (1/151; 0.7%). Biopsy specimens yielded sufficient tissue for a histopathologic diagnosis in most cases (94%) but diagnoses had only fair (72%) agreement with postmortem findings. Risk factors for complications included biopsy specimens of the left kidney (P = .030), a diagnosis of neoplasia (P = .004), and low urine specific gravity (P = .030). No association with complications was found for age, sex, breed, institution, presenting complaint, other initial clinicopathologic data, biopsy instrument, needle size, or use of ultrasonographic guidance. Conclusions: Renal biopsy in horses has low morbidity and results in a morphological histopathologic diagnosis in 94% of cases. However, this procedure might result in serious complications and should only be used when information obtained would be likely to impact decisions regarding patient management and prognosis.
Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2011-03-07 PubMed ID: 21382083DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.0700.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
Summary
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This study investigates the effectiveness and risks associated with renal biopsies in horses. The research found that while the procedure generally provides useful diagnostic information, it does carry a risk of complications, emphasizing that it should be used judiciously when the results could influence treatment decisions or prognosis assessments.
Research Methodology
- The study is a retrospective one, reviewing 151 cases of renal biopsies performed on 146 horses over a period of 26 years at 14 different institutions.
- The horses in the study ranged in age from 48 hours old to 30 years old.
Study Findings
- The rate of complications resulting from renal biopsies in horses was found to be 11.3%, which is similar to the rates found in human and companion animal surgeries.
- The most common complications were related to hemorrhage or signs of colic (a severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen that is generally associated with disease in the abdominal organs).
- However, only 3% of cases required treatment for these complications and the fatality rate was low at only 0.7% (1 out of 151).
- In most cases (94%), the biopsy specimens provided a sufficient amount of tissue to allow for a histopathologic diagnosis.
- Despite this, the diagnoses from the biopsies only had a 72% agreement rate with the findings from postmortems, indicating a fair level of diagnostic accuracy.
Risk Factors
- It was found that taking biopsy specimens from the left kidney, the presence of a neoplasia diagnosis (the process that results in the formation of a neoplasm or tumor), and low urine specific gravity were associated with higher risks of complications.
- No association between complications and age, sex, breed, institution, presenting complaint, other initial clinical data, the use of an ultrasound guide and the size of the biopsy needle was found.
Conclusion
- On overall, renal biopsies in horses have low morbidity and can provide useful diagnostic information.
- However, due to potential complications, they should only be performed when the information obtained from the biopsy is likely to impact decisions about patient management and prognosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Tyner GA, Nolen-Walston RD, Hall T, Palmero JP, Couëtil L, Javsicas L, Stack A, Schott H, Johnson A, Hardefeldt L, Gruntman A, Sommardahl C, Menzies-Gow N, dePedro P, Norman T, Fennell LC, Axon JE, Lindborg S, Aceto H, Boston R, Engiles J.
(2011).
A multicenter retrospective study of 151 renal biopsies in horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 25(3), 532-539.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.0700.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Internal Medicine Center, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biopsy / adverse effects
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Kidney / pathology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC 2nd, Siwinska N. ECEIM consensus statement on equine kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2008-2025.
- Siwińska N, Pasławska U, Bąchor R, Szczepankiewicz B, Żak A, Grocholska P, Szewczuk Z. Evaluation of podocin in urine in horses using qualitative and quantitative methods. PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0240586.
- Fouché N, Graubner C, Lanz S, Schweighauser A, Francey T, Gerber V. Acute kidney injury due to Leptospira interrogans in 4 foals and use of renal replacement therapy with intermittent hemodiafiltration in 1 foal. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):1007-1012.
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