The Prevalence of Malignant Neoplasia in Feline Renal-Transplant Recipients |
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| Authors: | John D Wooldridge DVM Diplomate ACVS Clare R Gregory DVM Diplomate ACVS Kyle G Mathews DVM MS Diplomate ACVS Lillian R Aronson VMD Diplomate ACVS rew E Kyles BVMS PhD Diplomate ACVS |
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| Institution: | Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA. |
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| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of malignant neoplasia in a group of feline renal-transplant recipients (FRTR). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Ninety-five consecutive client-owned FRTR treated at the University of California, Davis, between 1987 and 1997. METHODS: Medical records of the 95 cats were examined. The time to occurrence and type of malignant neoplasia, if present, was determined. RESULTS: Nine of 95 cats (9.5%) developed apparently de novo malignant neoplasia after receiving renal allografts. The predominant type of neoplasm was lymphoma. The median time to diagnosis of neoplasia in these 9 patients was 9.0 months after transplantation, whereas the median survival time was 14.0 months after transplantation. This compares with a median survival time of 22 months after transplantation for cats that died for reasons other than development of malignant neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Although these transplant recipients were not compared with a control population, it would appear that, as in humans, malignant neoplasia is encountered with greater-than-expected frequency after renal transplantation and immunosuppression in cats. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The apparent propensity to develop malignant neoplasia after renal transplantation and immunosuppression in cats is a fatal complication of which owners and clinicians should be aware. |
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