Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, also known as AD-PKD, or polycystic kidney disease (PKD), is the most common inherited renal disease in cats. Affected cats will suffer from congenital renal cysts that enlarge as the cat gets older, eventually leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Sadly, there’s no specific treatment for feline polycystic kidney disease. Persians and related cat breeds can carry the gene for this inherited disorder, but ultrasound screening and genetic testing has helped to reduce the numbers of cats with the condition.

What Is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease?

As the full name of the disease is rather long, we'll just call it AD-PKD from now on. AD is short for autosomal dominant and describes the type of gene. PKD is the name of the gene that results in polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal means that the gene is not on the sex chromosome so both male and female cats can be affected. Being a dominant gene means that every cat with this gene abnormality will be affected and can pass on the condition to some of their offspring.

The condition leads to the development of cysts in the kidneys of cats that have inherited the gene. Small fluid filled cysts develop in the kidney, gradually getting larger as the cat gets older.

The kidney is an important organ that removes waste from the blood, maintains water and salt balance, regulates blood pressure, and aids in the production of red blood cells. If the kidney's can’t function properly, the disease will eventually cause kidney failure.

Does Breed Affect Risk of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Disease in Cats?

Yes, certain breeds of cats are predisposed to AD-PKD. The disease is more common in Persian cats and related breeds. Other related breeds that may have inherited the AD-PKD gene by cross-breeding with Persians include British Shorthairs, Exotic shorthairs, Himalayans, Burmillas and possibly Maine Coons.

As cats with AD-PKD may not show any signs of the disease until they’re older, they may have been allowed to breed and pass on the condition. Pre-breeding screening of high-risk breeds should be carried out too as an early diagnosis to determine if they have the abnormal gene, so only cats without the gene are used for breeding.

Symptoms of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats

Symptoms of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in cats can develop from 3-10 years of age, but on average symptoms are usually first noticed in your cat around the age of 7 years. Fluid-filled renal cysts gradually replace normal kidney tissue and kidney function is reduced.

Clinical signs of kidney disease in cats include increased thirst, increased urination (sometimes with blood in the urine), reduced appetite, constipation, vomiting, weight loss, and dissorientation. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure, putting your cat at risk of additional symptoms such as blindness, strokes and seizures.

The rate of progression from showing no symptoms (being asymptomatic) to having kidney failure is highly variable. Some cats can have a rapid decline in kidney function and die from the condition while young, while some older cats can persevere despite having the disease.

How is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats Diagnosed?

Ultrasound scans can be carried out to detect if any renal cysts are present, but these cysts can be very small in young cats. If your cat is from one of the high-risk breed groups, then your breeder should have had their cats screened and have a certificate stating that both parents have been tested and are both free of the disease.

Generally, cats have to be over 10 months old and scanned by a specialist, approved ultrasonographer. They must also be microchipped to check the cat’s identity before an AD-PKD free certificate can be given.

Genetic testing has now become the preferred test for cat breeds at risk of AD-PKD. This involves taking a mouth swab or blood sample from an at-risk cat and sending the sample to a laboratory for testing. The sample must be taken by a vet and the cat’s microchip number verified.

The International Cat Care (iCatCare) AD-PKD register has a list of cats that have tested negative for the PKD gene and are suitable for breeding. Prospective cat owners can also look up the register before buying a kitten to make sure that both parents are PKD negative, and therefore the kitten will be free from the disease.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats Treatment

Unfortunately, there isn't a specific polycystic kidney disease in cats' treatment. There are some treatments that can slow down progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of affected cats, but there is no cure. Polycystic kidney disease in cats’ prognosis is poor. End stage polycystic kidney disease in cats is kidney failure and AD-PKD is ultimately fatal.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition, mainly affecting Persian cats and related breeds. Cats only need to inherit one copy of the abnormal PKD gene to be affected.

There’s no cure for AD-PKD, and affected cats will have progressive kidney disease. However, the introduction of genetic screening means that cats with the gene for AD-PKD can be identified and not used for breeding. This has led to fewer cats being born with the condition and eventually it may be possible to eliminate this disease.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

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