Retrospective evaluation of 22 dogs with leptospirosis treated with extracorporeal renal replacement therapies (2018-2021).

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of dogs with acute kidney injury secondary to leptospirosis (AKI-L) treated using renal replacement therapies (RRT) are poorly characterized.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Describe survival to discharge, short (≤30 days) and long-term (≥6 months) outcomes of AKI-L dogs receiving RRT and determine if there is a significant difference in maximum blood urea nitrogen (maxBUN), maximum creatinine (maxCr), maximum bilirubin (maxBili) and the number of body systems affected between survivors and non-survivors.

ANIMALS: Twenty-two client-owned dogs with AKI-L receiving RRT.

METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of dogs with AKI-L that received RRT between 2018 and 2021.

RESULTS: Sixteen of 22 (73%) dogs survived to discharge. Of the survivors, 13 (81%) were alive >30 days from discharge and 12 (75%) were alive at 6 months from discharge. Factors significantly higher in non-survivors included number of body systems affected (survivors: 1 (19%), 2 (50%), 3 (25%) and 4 (6%) vs non-survivors: 3 (33.3%), and 4 (66.7%); P = .01) and median maxBili (survivors: 1.9 mg/dL; range, 0.1-41.6 vs non-survivors: 21.0 mg/dL; range, 12.3-38.9; P = .02). There was no significant difference in median maxBUN (survivors: 153.0 mg/dL; range, 67-257 vs non-survivors: 185.5 mg/dL; range, 102-218; P = .44) and median maxCr (survivors: 9.8 mg/dL; range, 6.2-15.9 vs non-survivors: 9.8 mg/dL; range, 8.4-13.5; P = .69) between survivors and non-survivors.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Regardless of azotemia severity, dogs with AKI-L receiving RRT have a good survival rate to discharge. The number of body systems affected and hyperbilirubinemia might be associated with worse outcomes.