Obstructive jaundice associated with chronic active hepatitis in a dog

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Hepatology
• Canine Pathology

Background:

• Chronic active hepatitis can manifest as cholestatic syndrome in dogs.
• Distinguishing between intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis is crucial for diagnosis.
• Enzyme levels alone may not differentiate cholestasis causes in canine liver disease.

Observation:

• A dog with chronic active hepatitis exhibited cholestasis.
• Percutaneous liver biopsy was required due to inconclusive enzyme tests for cholestasis.
• The dog developed complications including gastrointestinal hemorrhage and hepatic encephalopathy after prednisolone treatment.

Findings:

• Morphological analysis of liver biopsy and necropsy specimens showed significant variations in disease activity.
• Disease activity in chronic active hepatitis was not uniform throughout the liver.
• Simultaneous liver biopsies highlighted locational differences in pathological changes.

Implications:

• Percutaneous liver biopsy is essential for diagnosing cholestasis in dogs when enzyme tests are indeterminate.
• Understanding the heterogeneous nature of liver disease activity is vital for accurate canine hepatitis diagnosis.
• This case underscores the importance of considering localized disease variations in liver pathology and treatment strategies.