European Veterinary Renal Pathology Service: A Survey Over a 7‐Year Period (2008–2015)

Abstract

BackgroundThe European Veterinary Renal Pathology Service (EVRPS) is the first Web‐based registry for canine renal biopsy specimens in Europe.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe aim was to verify whether differences exist between the clinical and laboratory presentation of dogs with nephropathy according to renal pathological findings, as defined by light and electron microscopy of renal biopsy specimens submitted to EVRPS.AnimalsRenal biopsy specimens of dogs were collected from the archive of the service (n = 254). Cases were included if both light and electron microscopy were available (n = 162).MethodsRenal biopsy specimens were classified based on the morphological diagnoses. Thereafter, they were grouped into 3 disease categories, including immune‐complex‐mediated glomerulonephritis (ICGN), non‐immune‐complex‐mediated GN (non‐ICGN), and renal lesions not otherwise specified (RL‐NOS). Differences among morphological diagnoses and among disease categories were investigated for clinical and laboratory variables.ResultsSerum albumin concentration was lower in dogs with ICGN than in those with non‐ICGN (P = 0.006) or RL‐NOS (P = 0.000), and the urine protein‐to‐creatinine ratio (UPC) was significantly higher in ICGN than in the other 2 disease categories. Regarding morphological diagnoses, albumin was significantly lower in amyloidosis (AMY) and membranous (MGN), membranoproliferative (MPGN) or mixed glomerulonephritis (MixGN) than in minimal change disease, primary (FSGS I) or secondary (FSGS II) focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and juvenile nephropathies (JN). The UPC was higher in MPGN than in FSGS I and FSGS II.Conclusions and clinical importanceDogs with ICGN, in particular MPGN, had higher protein loss than those with non‐ICGN or RL‐NOS, leading to more severe hypoalbuminemia. Clinical and laboratory differentiation among dogs with the different morphological diagnoses and among dogs with different disease categories was difficult due to overlapping results.

Occurrence, management and outcome of immune‐complex glomerulonephritis in dogs with suspected glomerulopathy in the UK

“…), (Aresu et al . ) and with most dogs being female [68% in this study, 72% in the North American study (Schneider et al . )].…”

“…), (Aresu et al . ). Prevalence of ICGN in dogs undergoing renal biopsy was lower in the UK population (27%) as compared to North America (48%) (Schneider et al .…”

“…) or Europe (including Mainland Europe and UK together; 50%) (Aresu et al . ). In this study, most of the dogs diagnosed with ICGN were male (88%).…”

“…) (Aresu et al . ), the golden retriever and Labrador retriever were the most common breeds represented although both are also popular breeds in the UK.…”

“…) and 50% in European countries (Mainland Europe and UK together) (Aresu et al . ). Other common diagnoses include primary glomerulosclerosis (GS) (21%), amyloidosis (AM) (15%), other non‐immune complex‐mediated glomerulopathies (9%), non‐immune complex‐mediated nephropathies (5%) and primary tubulointerstitial disease (2%) (Schneider et al .…”