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→Introduction
==Introduction==
'''Chronic hepatitis''' is an inflammatory-necrotising disease of at least 6 months duration. It is characterised by hepatocellular [[Adaptive Immunity to Viruses|apoptosis]] or [[Necrosis - Pathology|necrosis]], a variable mononuclear or mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate, [[Liver Regeneration|regeneration]] and [[Liver Fibrosis|fibrosis]] (1). It predominantly consists of lymphocytic-plasmacytic inflammatory infiltration, and the disease process typically involves a slowly progressive inflammation which leads to fibrosis and possibly cirrhosis.
==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 the following breeds:
<gallery>
Image:Dobermann.jpg|'''Dobermann'''<p>John Adams (2007) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Bedlington.jpg|'''Bedlington Terrier'''<p> Pleple2000 (2006) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Cocker_spaniel.jpg|'''Cocker Spaniel'''<p> Ellen Levy Finch (2004) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Dalmatian.jpg|'''Dalmatian'''<p> Miroslav Cacik (2006) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Skye_terrier.jpg|'''Skye Terrier'''<p> Pleple2000 (2007) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Standard_poodle.jpg|'''Standard Poodle''' <p> John Leslie (2007) WikiMedia Commons
Image:labrador.jpg|'''Labrador Retriever'''<p> Ellen Levy Finch (2004) WikiMedia Commons
Image:GermanShep.jpg|'''German Shepherd (Alsatian)'''<p> Ellen Levy Finch (2004) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Scottish_terrier.jpg|'''Scottish Terrier'''<p> Svencb (2003) WikiMedia Commons
Image:Beagle.jpg|'''Beagle'''<p> sannse (2003) WikiMedia Commons
==Description==
</gallery>
==Aetiology==
A number of aetiologies include:
A number of aetiologies include:
*Familial predisposition
*Familial predisposition
**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 canine hepatitis-
*Infectious, for example [[Infectious Canine Hepatitis|infectious canine hepatitis]]
*Autoimmune or steroid responsive disorder
*Autoimmune or steroid responsive disorder
===Clinical Signs===
===Clinical Signs===
These include:
These include:
*anorexia, lethargy and depression
*anorexia, lethargy and depression
*weight loss
*weight loss
*vomiting and diarrhoea
*[[Vomiting|vomiting]] and [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]]
*polyuria and polydipsia
*polyuria and polydipsia
*ascites - most consistent in dogs with cirrhosis
*ascites - most consistent in dogs with [[Cirrhosis|cirrhosis]]
*and rarely icterus, seizures, fever and bleeding diathesis
*and rarely [[Icterus|icterus]], seizures, fever and bleeding diathesis
===Laboratory tests===
===Laboratory tests===
Haematology:
*Mild non-regenerative anaemia and microcytosis
*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.
*Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). However these may not be increased if end-stage [[Cirrhosis|cirrhosis]] is reached.
*Hyperbilirubinaemia
*Hyperbilirubinaemia
*Hypoalbuminaemia
*Hypoalbuminaemia
*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 disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
*Increased prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicates severe liver dysfunction or [[Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation|disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)]]
==Imaging==
Abdominal radiographs will only reveal microhepatica or ascites when advanced stages of disease are reached.
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.
Ultrasonographically, liver may be normal or non specific changes in echogenecity may be seen in early stages of the disease. In cases of [[Cirrhosis|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.
This is required for definitive diagnosis and to differentiate chronic hepatitis from other hepatopathies. Chronic hepatitis is characterised by moderate to severe lymphoplasmacellular [[Inflammation - Pathology|inflammation]] and [[Liver Necrosis|necrosis]] of the hepatocytes adjacent to the portal tracts.
==Treatment==
==Treatment==
*Glucocorticoids at 1-2 mg/kg/day PO
*[[Steroids|Glucocorticoids]]
**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.
==Prognosis==
==Prognosis==
Response to treatment is variable. Poor prognosis for dogs with fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Response to treatment is variable. Dogs with [[Liver Fibrosis|fibrosis]] and [[Cirrhosis |cirrhosis]] carry a poorer prognosis.
{{Learning
|Vetstream = [https://www.vetstream.com/felis/Content/Disease/dis01088.asp Liver: chronic disease in feline]<br>[https://www.vetstream.com/canis/Content/Disease/dis01089.asp Chronic heptatitis in canines]
}}
==References==
==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''.
*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''.
[[Category:Liver_-_Inflammatory_Pathology]]
[[Category:Liver Diseases - Dog]][[Category:To Do - Clinical]]