A multicenter retrospective study of 151 renal biopsies in horses

Abstract

Background: Renal biopsies are uncommonly performed in horses and little is known about their diagnostic utility and associated complication rate.

Objective: To describe the techniques, the complication rate, risk factors, and histopathology results; as well as evaluate the safety and diagnostic utility of renal biopsy in the horse.

Animals: One hundred and forty-six horses from which 151 renal biopsies were obtained. Animals ranged in age from 48 hours to 30 years.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective study, with participation of 14 institutions (1983-2009).

Results: Renal biopsy in horses was associated with a similar rate of complications (11.3%) to that occurring in humans and companion animals. Complications were generally associated with hemorrhage or signs of colic, and required treatment in 3% of cases. Fatality rate was low (1/151; 0.7%). Biopsy specimens yielded sufficient tissue for a histopathologic diagnosis in most cases (94%) but diagnoses had only fair (72%) agreement with postmortem findings. Risk factors for complications included biopsy specimens of the left kidney (P = .030), a diagnosis of neoplasia (P = .004), and low urine specific gravity (P = .030). No association with complications was found for age, sex, breed, institution, presenting complaint, other initial clinicopathologic data, biopsy instrument, needle size, or use of ultrasonographic guidance.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Renal biopsy in horses has low morbidity and results in a morphological histopathologic diagnosis in 94% of cases. However, this procedure might result in serious complications and should only be used when information obtained would be likely to impact decisions regarding patient management and prognosis.