Growth and Nutrition of Uremic Piglets

Abstract

Extract: Piglets aged 6 days were rendered uremic by subtotal nephrectomy and their growth and dietary intakes studied over the next 21 days. Eleven control piglets fed a voluntary intake of a sow's milk substitute (group A), 11 nephrectomized piglets fed a voluntary intake of the same feed (group B), 6 nephrectomized piglets tube fed the same milk (group C), and 11 nephrectomized piglets fed a voluntary intake of a low protein, isocaloric food (group D) were studied. After nephrectomy the piglets had an initial rapid rise in blood urea concentration which had fallen by day 7 and then leveled out around 13 mmol/liter in group B and 8 mmol/liter in group D.

After operation control piglets (group A) ate more from day 4 and were larger from day 7 than the nephrectomized piglets (group B). Those piglets tube fed (group C) were of a similar size to the controls but all died between day 7 and day 11 with associated high blood urea concentrations. Piglets fed the low protein, isocaloric feed (group D) were smaller than both the controls and group B. They also ate less food than the controls and those nephrectomized piglets in group B which were on a voluntary intake of the normal feed.

Speculation: Reduced energy intake is related to growth retardation seen in children with chronic renal insufficiency. However, is this the cause or result of reduced growth velocity? Ensuring a satisfactory intake of energy and nutrients from birth may ensure an initial normal growth pattern in children with chronic renal insufficiency.

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