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Circulatory disorders of the liver in dogs and cats
T S van den Ingh1, J Rothuizen, H P Meyer
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Insights
This review covers liver circulatory disorders in dogs and cats, including congenital shunts, outflow issues from heart failure, and portal hypertension from liver disease. Primary hypoplasia of the portal vein is a key cause in dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Hepatology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Liver circulatory disorders are common in domestic animals.
- These conditions significantly impact animal health and require accurate diagnosis.
- Existing literature provides a foundation for understanding these complex pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current knowledge on hepatic circulation and circulatory disorders in dogs and cats.
- To present novel, unpublished data on these conditions.
- To classify and delineate the primary causes and consequences of liver circulatory dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of hepatic circulation and related disorders.
- Inclusion of original, unpublished research data from the authors.
- Categorization of disorders into congenital portosystemic shunts, outflow disturbances, and portal hypertension.
Main Results:
- Outflow disturbances, primarily cardiac failure, lead to passive liver congestion in both species.
- Portal hypertension, often stemming from cirrhosis, causes portosystemic collateral circulation and ascites.
- Primary hypoplasia of the portal vein is identified as the main vascular cause of portal hypertension and ascites in dogs.
Conclusions:
- Hepatic circulatory disorders in dogs and cats encompass a range of conditions with distinct etiologies and clinical presentations.
- Understanding these disorders is crucial for effective veterinary diagnosis and treatment.
- Congenital shunts, cardiac-induced congestion, and chronic liver disease-induced portal hypertension represent major categories requiring further investigation.
Abstract:
This paper presents a review of the literature on hepatic circulation and circulatory disorders of the liver in the dog and cat, and also includes a number of our own not previously published data. Circulatory disorders of the liver are frequently observed in dogs and cats. These disorders can be divided into congenital portosystemic shunts, disorders associated with outflow disturbances, and disorders associated with portal hypertension. Outflow disturbances result in passive congestion of the liver and in both species are mainly due to cardiac failure. Portal hypertension with resultant portosystemic collateral circulation and ascites mainly results from chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis. The main vascular disorder resulting in portal hypertension and ascites in the dog is primary hypoplasia of the portal vein.