Miscellaneous Laboratory Findings with Renal Disease

Leukogram changes are not seen with lower urinary tract inflammation/infection, unless accompanied by genital tract infection (e.g. prostatitis, pyometra). An inflammatory leukogram may be present in cases of pyelonephritis, but these changes are inconsistent and can be very mild. Marked elevations in fibrinogen, with or without leukogram changes suggesting inflammation, may be observed with pyelonephritis in cattle.

Calcium is inconsistently altered in renal disease. Horses and young dogs with renal disease may be hypercalcemic. In other species and ages of animals, calcium can be within reference limits, high or low. Persistent hypercalcemia, which can occur with certain malignancies (e.g. lymphosarcoma and apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac), is occasionally the primary cause of renal disease.

Hyperamylasemia and hyperlipasemia, in the absence of pancreatic disease, may accompany renal failure, particularly in the dog. Levels of enzyme activity can be particularly high with oliguria and anuria. Lack of degradation and excretion of these enzymes through the urinary tract is the likely explanation.