Hypercalcemia and Hypophosphatemia in Ponies following Bilateral Nephrectomy

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Abstract
A clinical syndrome has been recognized previously in horses, characterized by hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and renal failure. The accumulated evidence suggested that hypercalcemia was a secondary effect of renal failure rather than the primary cause of renal disease. To test this hypothesis, the metabolic response following bilateral nephrectomy was investigated in 5 ponies. In contrast to the response observed in other mammalian species, nephrectomy in ponies resulted in significant hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia. Forty-eight h following nephrectomy, serum Ca increased from a mean control value of 12.2 .+-. 0.4 to 17.6 .+-. 0.7 mg/dl and serum inorganic phosphorus had decreased from a control value of 3.2 .+-. 0.5 to 1.5 .+-. 0.3 mg/dl. These changes persisted until the time of death (mean survival time 7.2 .+-. 3.2 days) and suggest that the equine kidney plays a unique role in Ca homeostasis.