Acute kidney injury is associated with decreased platelet function in domestic cats.

Cats with AKI exhibit significant platelet dysfunction regardless of azotemia severity, warranting caution before invasive procedures.

This prospective case-control study investigated platelet dysfunction in cats with acute kidney injury (AKI) using two complementary platelet function analyzers: the PFA-200 and the Multiplate® (MP). Fifteen cats diagnosed with AKI were compared to 15 healthy control cats. Platelet function was assessed via PFA-200 collagen/ADP closure time (CT) and MP assays using ADP, collagen (Col), and arachidonic acid (ASPI) agonists. Cats with AKI demonstrated significantly prolonged PFA-200 Col/ADP closure times (109 s vs. 56 s; P=.001) and significantly reduced MP area under the curve (AUC) values across all three agonists (ADP: 62 vs. 108; Col: 60 vs. 98; ASPI: 22 vs. 46), indicating impaired platelet function through multiple pathways. When stratified by AKI etiology, cats with ureteral obstruction had higher PFA-200 CT compared to other AKI causes, though MP assay results did not differ significantly between subgroups. Notably, no correlation was identified between the degree of azotemia (serum urea, creatinine, phosphorus, or urine specific gravity) and the severity of platelet dysfunction, suggesting that platelet impairment is not simply proportional to the magnitude of renal markers. Platelet counts were not reported as significantly different between groups. The study confirms that uremic platelet dysfunction occurs in cats, analogous to findings in other species, and highlights the importance of considering hemostatic competence when planning invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures in cats with AKI, even when azotemia appears mild.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.