Difference between revisions of "Hepatitis, Chronic"
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==Signalment== | ==Signalment== | ||
*Common in dogs, especially young to middle-aged dogs. | *Common in dogs, especially young to middle-aged dogs. | ||
| − | *Mixed and purebred dogs are affected but there is a familial predisposition in | + | *Mixed and purebred dogs are affected but there is a familial predisposition in |
| − | + | **Doberman pinscher | |
| − | + | **Bedlington Terrier | |
| − | + | **Cocker Spaniel | |
| − | + | **Dalmatian | |
| − | + | **Skye Terrier | |
| − | + | **Poodle | |
| − | + | **Labrador Retriever | |
| − | + | **German Shepherd Dog | |
| − | + | **Scottish Terrier | |
| − | + | **Beagle | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Description== | |
| − | == | + | Chronic hepatitis is an inflammatory-necrotising disease of at least 6 months duration. It is characterised by hepatocellular apoptosis or necrosis, a variable mononuclear or mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate, regeneration and fibrosis (1). It predominantly consists of lymphocytic-plasmacytic inflammatory infiltration. |
| + | |||
A number of aetiologies include: | A number of aetiologies include: | ||
*Familial predisposition | *Familial predisposition | ||
| Line 23: | Line 25: | ||
**This may be a cause or consequence of chronic hepatitis. Copper is normally excreted in bile, therefore it can occur with any cholestatic hepatobiliary disorder. | **This may be a cause or consequence of chronic hepatitis. Copper is normally excreted in bile, therefore it can occur with any cholestatic hepatobiliary disorder. | ||
*Chronic drug therapy | *Chronic drug therapy | ||
| − | *Infectious, for example | + | *Infectious, for example infectious canine hepatitis- |
*Autoimmune or steroid responsive disorder | *Autoimmune or steroid responsive disorder | ||
| + | ==Diagnosis== | ||
===Clinical Signs=== | ===Clinical Signs=== | ||
These include: | These include: | ||
*anorexia, lethargy and depression | *anorexia, lethargy and depression | ||
*weight loss | *weight loss | ||
| − | * | + | *vomiting and diarrhoea |
*polyuria and polydipsia | *polyuria and polydipsia | ||
| − | *ascites - most consistent in dogs with | + | *ascites - most consistent in dogs with cirrhosis |
| − | *and rarely | + | *and rarely icterus, seizures, fever and bleeding diathesis |
===Laboratory tests=== | ===Laboratory tests=== | ||
| − | Haematology | + | |
| + | ====Haematology==== | ||
*Mild non-regenerative anaemia and microcytosis | *Mild non-regenerative anaemia and microcytosis | ||
| − | Biochemistry | + | ====Biochemistry==== |
| − | *Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). However these may not be increased if end-stage | + | *Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). However these may not be increased if end-stage cirrhosis is reached. |
*Hyperbilirubinaemia | *Hyperbilirubinaemia | ||
*Hypoalbuminaemia | *Hypoalbuminaemia | ||
| Line 50: | Line 54: | ||
*Increased bile acids | *Increased bile acids | ||
*Abnormal ammonia tolerance test | *Abnormal ammonia tolerance test | ||
| − | *Increased prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicates severe liver dysfunction or | + | *Increased prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicates severe liver dysfunction or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) |
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| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | Ultrasonographically, liver may be normal or non specific changes in echogenecity may be seen in early stages of the disease. In cases of | + | ===Imaging=== |
| + | *Abdominal radiographs will only reveal microhepatica or ascites when advanced stages of disease are reached. | ||
| + | *Ultrasonographically, liver may be normal or non specific changes in echogenecity may be seen in early stages of the disease. In cases of cirrhosis, microhepatica, irregularity in hepatic margin, focal lesions corresponding to regenerative nodules, hyperechogenicity of liver parenchyma associated with increased fibrous tissue and ascites may be seen. | ||
| − | ==Histopathology== | + | ===Histopathology=== |
| − | This is required for definitive diagnosis and to differentiate chronic hepatitis from other hepatopathies. Chronic hepatitis is characterised by moderate to severe lymphoplasmacellular | + | This is required for definitive diagnosis and to differentiate chronic hepatitis from other hepatopathies. Chronic hepatitis is characterised by moderate to severe lymphoplasmacellular inflammation and necrosis of the hepatocytes adjacent to the portal tracts. |
==Treatment== | ==Treatment== | ||
| − | * | + | *Glucocorticoids at 1-2 mg/kg/day PO |
**Taper down with improved clinical signs and normal liver enzymes values. | **Taper down with improved clinical signs and normal liver enzymes values. | ||
**This is not indicated for chronic hepatitis caused by drug therapy, primary copper accumulation or infectious agents. | **This is not indicated for chronic hepatitis caused by drug therapy, primary copper accumulation or infectious agents. | ||
| Line 74: | Line 77: | ||
==Prognosis== | ==Prognosis== | ||
| − | Response to treatment is variable. | + | Response to treatment is variable. Poor prognosis for dogs with fibrosis and cirrhosis. |
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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*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''. | *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''. | *Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) '''Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition)''' ''Mosby Elsevier''. | ||
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Revision as of 09:26, 12 August 2009
 |
This article is still under construction. |
Signalment
- Common in dogs, especially young to middle-aged dogs.
- Mixed and purebred dogs are affected but there is a familial predisposition in
- Doberman pinscher
- Bedlington Terrier
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dalmatian
- Skye Terrier
- Poodle
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shepherd Dog
- Scottish Terrier
- Beagle
Description
Chronic hepatitis is an inflammatory-necrotising disease of at least 6 months duration. It is characterised by hepatocellular apoptosis or necrosis, a variable mononuclear or mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate, regeneration and fibrosis (1). It predominantly consists of lymphocytic-plasmacytic inflammatory infiltration.
A number of aetiologies include:
- Familial predisposition
- Copper accumulation (copper storage disease)
- This may be a cause or consequence of chronic hepatitis. Copper is normally excreted in bile, therefore it can occur with any cholestatic hepatobiliary disorder.
- Chronic drug therapy
- Infectious, for example infectious canine hepatitis-
- Autoimmune or steroid responsive disorder
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
These include:
- anorexia, lethargy and depression
- weight loss
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- polyuria and polydipsia
- ascites - most consistent in dogs with cirrhosis
- and rarely icterus, seizures, fever and bleeding diathesis
Laboratory tests
Haematology
- Mild non-regenerative anaemia and microcytosis
Biochemistry
- Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). However these may not be increased if end-stage cirrhosis is reached.
- Hyperbilirubinaemia
- Hypoalbuminaemia
- Hyperglobulinaemia
- Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- Hypoglycaemia
Further tests
- Increased bile acids
- Abnormal ammonia tolerance test
- Increased prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicates severe liver dysfunction or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Imaging
- Abdominal radiographs will only reveal microhepatica or ascites when advanced stages of disease are reached.
- Ultrasonographically, liver may be normal or non specific changes in echogenecity may be seen in early stages of the disease. In cases of cirrhosis, microhepatica, irregularity in hepatic margin, focal lesions corresponding to regenerative nodules, hyperechogenicity of liver parenchyma associated with increased fibrous tissue and ascites may be seen.
Histopathology
This is required for definitive diagnosis and to differentiate chronic hepatitis from other hepatopathies. Chronic hepatitis is characterised by moderate to severe lymphoplasmacellular inflammation and necrosis of the hepatocytes adjacent to the portal tracts.
Treatment
- Glucocorticoids at 1-2 mg/kg/day PO
- Taper down with improved clinical signs and normal liver enzymes values.
- This is not indicated for chronic hepatitis caused by drug therapy, primary copper accumulation or infectious agents.
- Response to treatment should be followed up by liver biopsy 3-6 months later as glucocorticoid causes steroid induced ALP
- Ursodeoxycholic acid at 15mg/kg PO SID
- It is a synthetic hydrophilic bile acid that has hepatoprotective (anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects) properties and choleretic effect. It expands the bile acid pool and displaces potentially hepatotoxic hydrophobic bile acids that accumulate in cholestasis.
- Vitamin E
- An antioxidant to scavenge free radicals which may contribute to oxidative hepatocellular injury.
- Copper chelation if copper exceeds 2000ppm
- Penicillamine
- Zinc
Prognosis
Response to treatment is variable. Poor prognosis for dogs with fibrosis and cirrhosis.
References
- (1) Van den Ingh, TSGAM et. al. (2006). Morphological classification of parenchymal disorders of the canine and feline liver. In Rothuizen J et. al., editors: WSAVA standards for clinical and histological diagnosis of canine and feline liver disease, Oxford, England, Saunders.
- 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.