Difference between revisions of "Cholangitis, Lymphocytic"

Revision as of 14:08, 6 August 2009

Also known as lymphocyticplasmacytic cholangitis or cholangiohepatitis, lymphocytic portal hepatitis and nonsuppurative cholangitis or cholangiohepatitis.

Signalment

Young to middle-aged cats.

Description

Lymphocytic cholangitis is a slowly progressive chronic disease characterised by infiltration of the portal areas of the liver with small lymphocytes. Although an immune-mediated aetiology has been postulated, the disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

History of chronic waxing and waning low-grade illness. Vague clinical signs which include anorexia, depression, weight loss, intermittent vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice. Severe illness and pyrexia less likely compared to Neutrophilic Cholangitis. Some cats in the UK are polyphagic and are frequently presented with ascites and/or jaundice.

Haematology & Biochemistry

Over half of the cats have marked hyperglobulinaemia Neutrophilia is less common than with acute cholangitis

Imaging

Radiographic signs are non specific. Hepatomegaly due to enlargement of biliary ducts and ascites in some cases. Ultrasonograpy is more helpful and biliary tract dilation can be seen in all cases. Common bile duct is normally dilated and the gallbladder may also be dilated with "sludge". Main differential is extrahepatic biliary obstruction

Cytology and Culture

Treatment

Prognosis

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-Also known as: '''''Lymphocytic-plasmacytic cholangitis  —Cholangiohepatitis — Non-suppurative cholangitis'''''
-==Introduction==
+Also known as ''lymphocyticplasmacytic cholangitis or cholangiohepatitis'', ''lymphocytic portal hepatitis'' and ''nonsuppurative cholangitis or cholangiohepatitis''.
-'''Lymphocytic cholangitis''' is a slowly progressive chronic disease characterised by infiltration of the portal areas of the liver with inflammatory cells, mostly [[Lymphocytes - Introduction|lymphocytes]] and [[B cell differentiation#Plasma cells|plasma cells]].  Bile duct hypertrophy and [[Liver Fibrosis|fibrosis]] are present.  However, lymphocytic cholangitis does not progress to biliary [[Cirrhosis|cirrhosis]].  An immune-mediated aetiology has been postulated but this has not been substantiated to date.  It is rarely associated with [[Pancreatitis|pancreatitis]], compared to [[Cholangitis, Neutrophilic]]
 ==Signalment==
-Young to middle-aged cats, 50% are under 4 years old. Persians are often predisposed.
+Young to middle-aged cats.
+==Description==
+Lymphocytic cholangitis is a slowly progressive chronic disease characterised by infiltration of the portal areas of the liver with small lymphocytes.  Although an immune-mediated aetiology has been postulated, the disease has failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications.
 ==Diagnosis==
 ===Clinical Signs===
-History of chronic waxing and waning low-grade illness.
+History of chronic waxing and waning low-grade illness.  Vague clinical signs which include anorexia, depression, weight loss, intermittent vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice.  Severe illness and pyrexia less likely compared to [[Neutrophilic Cholangitis]].  Some cats in the UK are polyphagic and are frequently presented with ascites and/or jaundice.
-Vague clinical signs which may include anorexia, depression, weight loss, intermittent [[Vomiting|vomiting]] and [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]], [[Icterus|jaundice]],lymphadenomegaly. Severe illness and pyrexia is less likely compared to [[Cholangitis, Neutrophilic]].
-Some cats in the UK are polyphagic and are frequently presented with ascites and/or jaundice. Many show hepatomegaly and some have generalised lymphadenopathy. Possible sequel is chronic biliary cirrhosis and ascites. Due to the likelihood of liver being affected too, [[Hepatic Encephalopathy|hepatic encephalopathy]] and bleeding disorders may occur.
-===Laboratory Tests===
-====Haematology====
-[[Neutrophilia|Neutrophilia]] is less common than with [[Cholangitis, Neutrophilic]]
-====Biochemistry====
+===Haematology & Biochemistry===
-Increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Hyperbilirubinaemia and Hyperglobulinaemia.
+Over half of the cats have marked hyperglobulinaemia
+Neutrophilia is less common than with acute cholangitis
-===Diagnostic Imaging===
+===Imaging===
-====Radiography====
+Radiographic signs are non specific.  Hepatomegaly due to enlargement of biliary ducts and ascites in some cases.
-Radiographic signs are non specific.  Hepatomegaly due to enlargement of [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology#Hepatic Duct Systems|biliary ducts]] and in some cases ascites is also seen.
+Ultrasonograpy is more helpful and biliary tract dilation can be seen in all cases.  Common bile duct is normally dilated and the gallbladder may also be dilated with "sludge".   Main differential is extrahepatic biliary obstruction
-====Ultrasonography====
+===Cytology and Culture===
-Ultrasonography is more helpful.  Biliary tract dilation can be seen in all cases.  Common bile duct is normally dilated and the [[Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology|gall bladder]] may also be dilated with "sludge".   Main differential is extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
-===Histopathology===
-Liver biopsy is important to rule out [[Feline Infectious Peritonitis|Feline Infectious Peritonitis]] .  It is vital to obtain a haemostasis profile prior to biopsy due to risk of prolonged coagulation with liver disease.  It is unnecessary to obtain a bile sample unless the presentation is acute, in which case [[Cholangitis, Neutrophilic]] needs to be ruled out.
 ==Treatment==
-*Immunosuppressives
-Glucocorticoid at initial immunosuppressive dose for 6-12 weeks. This should be tapered gradually to alternate day dosing.  However, recurrence is common following initial amelioration of clinical signs.  Response to therapy is hard to assess due to the slowly progressive nature of this disease.  A persistent rise in ALT and/or increasing total serum bilirubin indicates an inadequate control of the disease.
-Azathioprine has been trialled but this is not recommended due to its side effects which include inappetence and leucopaenia. Methotrexate at low weekly dose has also been used in a few affected cats.
-Antibiotic may be given at early stages of treatment until an infectious cause has been ruled out.
-[[Liver Drugs|Ursodeoxycholic acid]] may be given as it has hepatoprotective (anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects) properties and choleretic effect.  The latter promotes increased fluidity of biliary secretions for treating or preventing sludging. Additionally antioxidants such as S-adenosylmethionine and vitamin E can be given to counteract the potent oxidising property of bile.
 ==Prognosis==
-Poor due to the waxing and waning feature of this disease.  In cats, this disease does not usually progress to end-stage cirrhosis and therefore it does not usually result in death, which is in contrast to dogs.
-{{Learning
-|Vetstream = [https://www.vetstream.com/felis/Content/Disease/dis01103.asp/ Cholangitis]
-|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=1&options1=AND&q1=Cholangitis&occuring1=title&rowId=2&options2=AND&q2=Lymphocytic&occuring2=title&rowId=3&options3=AND&q3=&occuring3=freetext&publishedstart=yyyy&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all&x=48&y=8 Lymphocytic Choloangitis publications]
-}}
-==References==
-Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) '''Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2''' (Fifth Edition) ''W.B. Saunders Company''.
-Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) '''Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition)''' ''Mosby Elsevier''.
-Marks, S.L. (2003). '''Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Cholangiohepatitis''' ''Waltham Feline Medicine Symposium''.
-{{review}}
-{{OpenPages}}
-[[Category:Gall_Bladder_and_Tract_-_Pathology]]]]
-[[Category:Gall Bladder and Tract Diseases - Cat]][[Category:Gall Bladder and Tract Diseases - Dog]]
-[[Category:Expert_Review]]