What Is Feline Glomerulonephritis

1 How the disease develops

Glomerulonephritis is an immune-mediated glomerular disease most often seen in young male cats. In the form most reported in the literature, immune complexes circulating in the cat’s bloodstream are filtered by the glomeruli and become lodged there, triggering inflammation. These antigen-antibody complexes are clinically linked to serious infections such as feline leukemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, anaplasma, or mycoplasma (which can also cause polyarthritis).

2 Clinical signs

The most typical picture is nephrotic syndrome. A second form shows the symptoms of chronic kidney failure, which looks much like kidney failure from any other cause. If polyarthritis is the underlying trigger, several joints may swell and become painful.

Blood and biochemistry tests most often reveal proteinuria (protein in the urine), hypoalbuminemia (low blood albumin), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and non-regenerative anemia.

3 Treatment goals

1. Underlying disease: the core aim is to diagnose and treat the root cause. This is not always possible, but when the trigger can be identified, it should be treated.

2. Furosemide: this diuretic helps reduce edema and ascites (fluid buildup).

3. Corticosteroids: an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone may be tried; if it works, it is continued until the underlying disease resolves.

4. ACE inhibitor: benazepril can help reduce loss of protein through the urine.

5. Blood-pressure medication: if hypertension develops, amlodipine is used to manage it.

6. Diet: because protein is lost, the cat needs enough dietary protein to maintain normal weight and serum albumin, and a low-salt diet helps limit fluid retention.