Investigation of neuropathies in dogs and cats with renal or hepatic failure

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate the occurrence, relevance and morphological characteristics of uraemic and hepatic neuropathies in dogs and cats. Material and methods: Samples of the common peroneal nerve from 14 dogs and 32 cats with renal and hepatic diseases were examined histologically and after nerve fibre teasing. Results: Six out of eight uremic dogs, eight out of 16 uremic cats, and four out of six dogs as well as seven out of 16 cats with hepatic diseases presented a subacute to chronic neuropathy. Amongst both disease complexes canine nerves revealed a rather uniform axonal pathology, whereas cats even of the same group impressed by a variable histological picture. Conclusions: Uremia and probably hepatopathy have to be considered as risk factors for the development of peripheral neuropathies in dogs and cats. In most cases the character of these neuropathies is - as in humans - axonal and rather unspecific from a morphological point of view. Its diagnostic value, therefore, is limited since an etiological diagnosis cannot be drawn from the histological picture. One remarkable feature in feline patients of either disease is the occurrence of an inflammatory neuropathy resembling chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), which is particularly interesting due to its therapeutic implications. Clinical relevance: Current developments in therapy of metabolic diseases, which do not necessarily result in complete reconvalescence, or reversal of all pathophysiological processes, and the increased survival times of affected animals will enhance the clinical relevance of secondary diseases such as metabolic neuropathies.