Calcium and phosphate homeostasis in hyperthyroid cats: associations with development of azotaemia and survival time

To evaluate calcium and phosphate homeostasis in hyperthyroid cats and determine if plasma parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor-23 are associated with the presence of -azotaemic chronic kidney disease and/or have prognostic significance.

Retrospective cohort study. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to identify if parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor-23 were predictors of development of azotaemia following treatment and survival time, respectively.

Two hundred and seven hyperthyroid cats were included. Elevated plasma parathyroid hormone concentrations, hyperphosphataemia, decreased plasma fibroblast growth factor-23 concentrations and hypocalcaemia were documented; however, all parameters returned to reference intervals following treatment of hyperthyroid cats without azotaemic chronic kidney disease. After adjustment for plasma creatinine concentration, baseline plasma parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor-23 concentrations were not predictors of the development of azotaemia following treatment. Baseline plasma fibroblast growth factor-23 concentrations were associated with all-cause mortality; however, this association was not maintained after adjustment for packed cell volume.

Changes in plasma parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor-23 concentrations which occur in hyperthyroid cats are not mediators of progression of chronic kidney disease; however, fibroblast growth factor-23 would appear to have some prognostic significance in hyperthyroidism.