Investigations on pathophysiological mechanisms, the clinical relevance and therapeutic controllability of hyperkalemia in neonatal diarrheic calves

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Florian Trefz
• Subject Area: Veterinary Medical Science
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265119071

Neonatal diarrhea in calves represents a common and economically important disease. Metabolic disorders are common in those animals and are typically characterized by metabolic acidosis, hemoconcentration and electrolyte imbalances. Hyperkalemia is a frequently observed disturbance in such calves that was traditionally attributed to impaired intracellular translocation of potassium ion in an acidemic state and was associated with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias due to its potential cardiotoxicity. Elevated plasma potassium concentrations were therefore considered to be an important cause of death in calves with neonatal diarrhea. Own investigations have shown that the clinical picture of this electrolyte disturbance is also characterized by impairments of ability to stand and marked clinical dehydration, with the latter seeming to play a key role in the pathogenesis of hyperkalemia. Based on these studies, the present project will address the therapeutic controllability of hyperkalemia and aims to identify the underlying mechanisms that are involved in the restoration of potassium homeostasis. A secondary aim of this project is to close knowledge gaps with respect to the pathogenesis and clinical relevance of hyperkalemia in neonatal calves with diarrhea.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants