The relationship between serum calcium concentration and outcome in horses with renal failure presented to referral hospitals.

This research aimed to determine if there’s a link between an increased level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) and survival rates in horses with kidney (renal) failure. Results indicate hypercalcemia is more common in chronic cases, especially in those fed alfalfa, but this doesn’t impact survival. High levels of creatinine, however, are associated with lower survival rates and tend to be present in acute cases.

Objectives

• The main goal of this study was to assess whether an elevated level of calcium in the blood influenced the survival rate of horses suffering from kidney failure.
• Secondary objectives included finding out if hypercalcemia was more prevalent in acute (ARF) or chronic renal failure (CRF), if consumption of alfalfa was linked with hypercalcemia, and whether the level of serum creatinine was connected to survival rate.

Methods

• The researchers reviewed medical records of 63 horses that had been referred to hospitals for kidney failure.
• The cases were classified into ARF (short-term) or CRF (long-term) kidney failure based on historical and clinical observations.
• They also gauged the prevalence of cases with below normal (hypocalcemia), normal (normocalcemia), and above normal (hypercalcemia) levels of calcium in both ARF and CRF groups.
• Comparison was made between average serum calcium and creatinine levels in survivors and non-survivors, as well as between ARF and CRF cases.

Results

• The data suggest chronic renal failure in horses is more likely to be associated with hypercalcemia than acute renal failure.
• Horses with chronic kidney failure that were fed alfalfa were more likely to be hypercalcemic.
• No significant differences were found in the blood calcium concentration between surviving and deceased horses.
• Higher creatinine levels were noted in animals who did not survive as well as in acute renal failure cases.

Conclusions

• The likelihood of hypercalcemia is higher in chronic renal failure in horses than in acute cases.
• No direct correlation was found between hypercalcemia and outcomes in kidney failure cases in this study.
• Considering the potential impact of diet on calcium levels, additional research is recommended to understand effects of dietary calcium on long-term well-being of horses with chronic renal failure.