Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute Hepatopathy in a Dog Secondary to Hypothyroidism-Induced Atherosclerotic Infarction and Necrosis.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Bolton, Timothy Andrew
- Affiliation:
- From the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male beagle was taken to the vet because he was very tired, not eating, and had discomfort in his belly. Tests showed that his liver enzymes were extremely high, and he had high cholesterol. Imaging of his abdomen revealed that part of his liver was not getting enough blood and he had a problem with his gallbladder. After surgery to remove the affected liver lobe and gallbladder, his symptoms improved, and his liver enzyme levels dropped significantly. Further examination of his liver tissue showed damage due to a condition called atherosclerosis, and he was later diagnosed with hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). Once he started taking medication to treat his thyroid condition, his liver enzyme levels and cholesterol returned to normal. Overall, the treatment worked well, and the dog recovered.
Abstract
A 7 yr old male beagle was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, and cranial abdominal discomfort. Significant clinicopathologic abnormalities included severe liver enzyme elevations and hypercholesterolemia. Abdominal imaging identified vascular compromise of the left lateral liver lobe and a gallbladder mucocele. Following liver lobectomy and cholecystectomy, the dog's clinical signs resolved, and liver enzymes substantially improved. Diffuse hepatocellular infarction and necrosis secondary to multifocal atherosclerosis was present on histopathology of the liver. Hypothyroidism was subsequently diagnosed. Restoration of euthyroidism with oral levothyroxine therapy resolved the remaining liver enzyme elevations and hypercholesterolemia. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case report of hypothyroidism resulting in a clinically apparent and resolvable acute hepatopathy due to atherosclerosis. Clinicians should include atherosclerosis as a differential diagnosis for dogs with an acute hepatopathy and investigate dogs for hypothyroidism if atherosclerosis is diagnosed on liver biopsy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33260219/