Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Liver lipogranulomas in dogs with portosystemic shunt explained
By Sobczak-Filipiak, M et al.·Published in Polish journal of veterinary sciences·2018·Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lipogranulomas and pigment granulomas in livers of dogs with portosystemic shunt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with a liver condition called portosystemic shunt, which affects blood flow, was found to have lipogranulomas—abnormal lesions in the liver. These lesions were identified in over half of the liver samples examined, and they contained inflammatory cells, including macrophages. During surgery, the dogs showed a reduction in liver size, and the study suggested that these lesions might develop due to a lack of blood supply and nutrients to the liver. Understanding these findings can help veterinarians better manage liver health in affected dogs.
People also search for: dog liver disease symptoms · portosystemic shunt treatment in dogs · what are lipogranulomas in dogs
Abstract
Lipogranulomas are lesions found in histopathological liver examination in humans and in various animal species, including dogs, especially those with portosystemic shunts. They consist of macrophages and other inflammatory cells, and sometimes they contain iron salts (pigment granuloma). This study aimed at determining the number of granulomas and cellular composition of lipogranulomas in dogs with the congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and to identify factors associated with their development. 44 archival liver samples from dogs with portosystemic shunt were stained using HE, Perl's method and - in randomly-selected cases - immunohistochemically against CD56, CD20 and CD3 (DAKO). A reduction in the size of the liver was observed in all dogs during laparotomy, and the diameter of the vessel circumventing the liver was also measured (in 24 dogs). Lipogranulomas were found in 52.3% of samples; iron salts were present in 47.8% of them; 72% of cells in lipogranulomas were macrophages. In lipogranulomas both types of lymphocytes - T and B - were seen. The presence of lipogranulomas in liver samples in dogs was connected with fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and was correlated with the age of animals and with the diameter of the abnormal vessel circumventing the liver. Their formation appears to be triggered by severe ischemia and shortage of nutrient supply.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30450864/