Congenital hepatic fibrosis with polycystic kidney disease in a Persian cat from New Zealand

This report describes atypical clinical features of a cat with feline polycystic kidney disease. An 18-month old Persian cat presented to Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a three week history of failure to gain weight, ptyalism, vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Mental obtundation and firm hepatomegaly were noted during physical examination. A low serum urea concentration and increased alkaline phosphatase concentration were noted. Pre and post prandial bile acid concentration was elevated above the reference interval. Abdominal ultrasound examination demonstrated diffuse moderate hepatomegaly with a homogenous coarse hyperechoic appearance to the parenchyma, numerous small round medullary and cortical bilateral renal cysts, splenomegaly and a small volume of abdominal effusion. Microscopic examination of liver biopsies revealed marked diffuse fibrosis with bridging between adjacent portal areas and marked biliary hyperplasia. The cat was diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis with hepatic failure and encephalopathy, and polycystic kidney disease. The cat was treated with oral lactulose, amoxicillin, and a low protein diet and was euthanised nine months later due to anorexia, vomiting and obtundation. The clinical features of the cat of this report were more consistent with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in people rather than the typical features usually seen in cats which are similar to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in people. The case shows that feline polycystic kidney disease is present in the Persian population in New Zealand. Aust Vet Practit 2011;41(4):178-181