Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Copper buildup causing chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in a European
By Meertens, N M et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2005·Department of Pathobiology, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Copper-associated chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in a European Shorthair cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male European Shorthair cat was brought to the vet because he wasn't eating, was vomiting, and had a fever. During surgery, the vet found fluid in his abdomen and a liver that looked irregular and nodular. Sadly, due to the poor prognosis, the cat was euthanized. Tests showed he had chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis caused by a dangerous buildup of copper in his liver cells, but there was no sign of excess copper in his diet or environment.
People also search for: cat vomiting and not eating · European Shorthair liver disease · copper storage disease in cats
Abstract
A 2-year-old, castrated, male European Shorthair cat was presented with inappetence, vomiting, and fever. Ascites and an irregularly nodular liver were observed on laparotomy; in view of the poor prognosis, the animal was euthanatized. Histopathologic examination of the liver showed a chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis associated with massive accumulation of copper in hepatocytes and macrophages, particularly in the fibrotic areas between the regenerative nodules. Electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis revealed lysosomal accumulation of copper in the hepatocytes. Analytical determination showed very high copper concentrations in the liver. No evidence for increased dietary or environmental copper could be found. This and the pattern of hepatic copper storage, the associated inflammation and fibrosis, strongly suggest a primary copper storage disorder.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15657281/