Malignant tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath in a left Whippet canine kidney

Background: Malignant tumors of the peripheral nerve sheath (MTPNS`s) are considered rare tumors that can affect soft tissues. In dogs, the occurrence is more common in the nerves of the brachial plexus, but they can affect the lumbosacral plexus and cranial nerves. Rarely, they can affect spinal nerves and nerve roots and the urinary tract, especially in kidneys. The present report aims to describe a clinical case of a 10-year-old sterilized female whippet, who had a history of persistent hematuria for months, with subsequent diagnosis of MTPNS as the cause of hematuria.Case: The patient came for evaluation with a history of persistent hematuria. Evaluation of abnormal elements and sedimentation, showed the description of numerous red blood cells and the presence of proteinuria. The abdominal ultrasound revealed a left kidney with enlarged dimensions, irregular contour, loss of corticomedullary definition. The urinary vesicle showed an increase in cellularity. On physical examination, the patient had vital parameters within the normal range. A Snap 4DX® Plus exam was requested, which showed a reaction for Dirofilaria immitis. With this result, it was initially suspected that renal vasculitis. After starting the treatment, the patient started to present normal colored urine. However, after the end of this period, the patient returned to hematuria. After six months of treatment and without justification for the permanence of hematuria, urethrocystoscopy was indicated, which revealed a urinary vesicle with a hemorrhagic focus. A urinary bladder wall biopsy was performed, which showed no changes. Four months after the urethrocystoscopic exam, the patient had her first azotemic crisis. This time that the left renal neoformation observed on ultrasound examination. With the discovery of the origin of the problem, a therapeutic approach could be instituted, consisting of the left nephrectomy. The histopathological analysis showed malignant spindle cell neoplasia. Immunohistochemical analysis in peroxidase revealed positivity for the markers, concluding the diagnosis as a tumor of the peripheral nerve sheath. Seven months after surgery, a new ultrasound examination of the abdominal region, as well as tests for the assessment of renal function, all of which were within normal parameters.Discussion: Most of the MTPNS originate in the peripheral nerves and in the cranial nerve sheath, but it can rarely originate in the abdominal cavity, as in the case reported here, in which the origin was renal. Such neoplasms are not common in dogs, with an incidence of 0.5%. The age of the affected dogs is, on average, nine years for the appearance of the neoplasia, with females with the highest frequency of occurrence. Both data corroborate the patient's age at the time of diagnosis. This is a tumor that is considered to be highly malignant and progressive, which did not occur in the patient in question, since she had a history of persistent hematuria for a long period, with no manifestation of the presence of the tumor on imaging. Still regarding the clinical manifestation of the patient's persistent hematuria, the same occurrence can be observed in a human patient who also reported a history of persistent hematuria and, like the patient in the report, not associated with any other clinical signs. It is important to differentiate this type of neoplasia from the others, because in many cases, the histological patterns are similar, making the performance of immunohistochemistry essential for the diagnosis. Renal MTPNS is rare in humans, and in dogs it is no different. This fact makes it difficult to describe the prognosis. Thus, efforts should be considered for the early diagnosis of peripheral nerve neoplasms, in view of their low response to available halopathic treatments and taking into account the rare aspect and evolution of this disease

Nutraceuticals for Dissolving Nephrolites in Cats

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a condition frequently observed in felines, with or without concomitant chronic kidney disease, constituting the major cause of ureteral obstruction and causing progressive damage to the renal parenchyma. About 90% of nephrolites are composed of calcium oxalate, which cannot dissolve, and its incidence has increased substantially in recent years, along with its recurrence. There are functional foods known as nutraceuticals provides health benefits such as renoprotection. Due to these benefits and the high prevalence of nephrolithiasis in feline species, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the association of some nutraceuticals in the dissolution of nephrolites.Materials, Methods & Results: The included cats had an ultrasound diagnosis of nephrolithiasis that, on clinical examination, showed: (i) the absence of previous or concomitant treatment for urinary infections and/or vesical and renal lithiasis; (ii) absence of genitourinary clinical manifestations; (iii) absence of obstructive processes; and (iv) absence of concomitant ureterolithiasis. We separated 51 cats with nephrolithiasis into 2 groups: control (n = 12) and study (n = 39). The control group received a placebo and the study group, nutraceuticals (magnesium chelate, resveratrol, vitamin K2, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid). Laboratory tests (blood and urine) and abdominal imaging (ultrasound) were performed at day 0 and 30 days after enrollment. Monitoring the therapeutic efficacy in both groups was performed on day 30 for the CG and on days 30, 60, and 90 for the EG. The CG cats, after this step, were referred to surgery or to the EG, with prior authorization from their tutors. The diameter of nephrolites was significantly different before and after treatment, indicating a reduction in nephroliths over time. During the use of the nutraceutical formulation by the EG and use of placebo by the CG, there were no clinical and/or laboratory manifestations of side effects.Discussion: The dissolution of nephrolites was correlated with the synergism promoted by the combination of nutraceuticals and not with the individual beneficial action of each nutraceutical since nutraceuticals have individually been used in isolation for a long time in veterinary medicine without having yielded the same benefit. Those undissolved were attributed to a different type of mineral composition than the one associated with the nutraceutical compound in this study, such as struvite or ammonium urate, of mixed composition or comprising solidified dried blood, which has shown an increasing increase in use in recent years. The dissolution of nephrolites was correlated with the synergism promoted by the combination of nutraceuticals and not with the individual beneficial action of each nutraceutical since nutraceuticals have individually been used in isolation for a long time in veterinary medicine without having yielded the same benefit. The undissolved nephrolites were attributed to the nephrolites that obtained partial dissolution at the end of 90 days, in that they possibly needed a longer time to obtain complete dissolution or that they present another mineral composition in their nucleus; that is, it is a compound-type urolith. The nutraceutical compound proved to be effective in the dissolution of nephrolites in the cats included in this study, and the time of use (up to 90 days) showed no negative influence on the clinical or laboratory tests during the entire treatment period.Keywords: cats, food supplement, functional foods, natural products, nephrolithiasis, nutraceuticals

Osteodistrofia fibrosa em canino idoso secundário à doença renal crônica: relato de caso

A osteodistrofia renal ou osteodistrofia fibrosa é uma complicação decorrente do hiperparatireoidismo secundário à doença renal crônica, que pode estar presente desde os estágios iniciais. A osteodistrofia é um distúrbio osteopênico com proliferação do tecido conjuntivo fibroso, mais evidente nos ossos mandibulares e maxilares, que acomete frequentemente animais jovens e é menos frequente em animais idosos. O presente relato tem como objetivo principal descrever o caso de um canino fêmea com nove anos de idade, sem raça definida, com hiperparatireoidismo secundário a doença renal crônica que evoluiu para uma osteodistrofia fibrosa renal

Nutraceuticals for Dissolving Nephrolites in Cats

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a condition frequently observed in felines, with or without concomitant chronic kidney disease, constituting the major cause of ureteral obstruction and causing progressive damage to the renal parenchyma. About 90% of nephrolites are composed of calcium oxalate, which cannot dissolve, and its incidence has increased substantially in recent years, along with its recurrence. There are functional foods known as nutraceuticals provides health benefits such as renoprotection. Due to these benefits and the high prevalence of nephrolithiasis in feline species, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the association of some nutraceuticals in the dissolution of nephrolites.Materials, Methods & Results: The included cats had an ultrasound diagnosis of nephrolithiasis that, on clinical examination, showed: (i) the absence of previous or concomitant treatment for urinary infections and/or vesical and renal lithiasis; (ii) absence of genitourinary clinical manifestations; (iii) absence of obstructive processes; and (iv) absence of concomitant ureterolithiasis. We separated 51 cats with nephrolithiasis into 2 groups: control (n = 12) and study (n = 39). The control group received a placebo and the study group, nutraceuticals (magnesium chelate, resveratrol, vitamin K2, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid). Laboratory tests (blood and urine) and abdominal imaging (ultrasound) were performed at day 0 and 30 days after enrollment. Monitoring the therapeutic efficacy in both groups was performed on day 30 for the CG and on days 30, 60, and 90 for the EG. The CG cats, after this step, were referred to surgery or to the EG, with prior authorization from their tutors. The diameter of nephrolites was significantly different before and after treatment, indicating a reduction in nephroliths over time. During the use of the nutraceutical formulation by the EG and use of placebo by the CG, there were no clinical and/or laboratory manifestations of side effects.Discussion: The dissolution of nephrolites was correlated with the synergism promoted by the combination of nutraceuticals and not with the individual beneficial action of each nutraceutical since nutraceuticals have individually been used in isolation for a long time in veterinary medicine without having yielded the same benefit. Those undissolved were attributed to a different type of mineral composition than the one associated with the nutraceutical compound in this study, such as struvite or ammonium urate, of mixed composition or comprising solidified dried blood, which has shown an increasing increase in use in recent years. The dissolution of nephrolites was correlated with the synergism promoted by the combination of nutraceuticals and not with the individual beneficial action of each nutraceutical since nutraceuticals have individually been used in isolation for a long time in veterinary medicine without having yielded the same benefit. The undissolved nephrolites were attributed to the nephrolites that obtained partial dissolution at the end of 90 days, in that they possibly needed a longer time to obtain complete dissolution or that they present another mineral composition in their nucleus; that is, it is a compound-type urolith. The nutraceutical compound proved to be effective in the dissolution of nephrolites in the cats included in this study, and the time of use (up to 90 days) showed no negative influence on the clinical or laboratory tests during the entire treatment period.Keywords: cats, food supplement, functional foods, natural products, nephrolithiasis, nutraceuticals