Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High vitamin B12 levels in dogs after liver shunt surgery
By Devriendt, Nausikaa et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2022·Small Animal Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Persistent hypercobalaminemia three months after successful gradual attenuation of extrahepatic shunts in dogs: a prospective cohort study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of ten dogs with a liver condition called extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS) underwent surgery to correct the issue. After the surgery, their levels of vitamins A, D, and folic acid improved significantly, indicating better liver function. However, seven out of the ten dogs still had high levels of cobalamin (a type of vitamin B) three months later, suggesting that some liver dysfunction might still be present despite the surgery being successful. This means that while the surgery helped, pet owners should continue to monitor their dogs for any ongoing liver issues.
People also search for: dog liver shunt surgery recovery · high cobalamin levels in dogs · vitamin deficiencies in dogs with liver disease
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Deficiencies in vitamin A and D and disorders in the vitamin B complex are often present in people with chronic liver diseases. So far, the serum concentrations of these vitamins have not yet been studied in dogs with congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS), who also have some degree of liver dysfunction. The objective was to assess serum vitamin concentrations in dogs with EHPSS from diagnosis to complete closure. A prospective cohort study was performed using ten client-owned dogs with EHPSS, closed after gradual surgical attenuation. Serum concentrations of vitamin A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, folic acid, cobalamin and methylmalonic acid (MMA) were measured at diagnosis prior to institution of medical therapy, prior to surgery, and three months after gradual attenuation and complete closure of the EHPSS. RESULTS: At diagnosis, median serum concentrations of vitamin A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and folic acid were 18.2 μg/dL (8.8 - 79.5 μg/dL), 51.8 ng/mL (19.4 - 109.0 ng/mL), and 8.1 μg/L (5.2 - 14.5 μg/L), respectively, which increased significantly postoperatively (88.3 μg/dL (51.6 - 182.2 μg/dL, P=0.005), 89.6 ng/mL (49.3 - >150.0 ng/mL, P =0.005), and 14.8 μg/L (11.5 - 17.7 μg/L, P <0.001), respectively). Median serum cobalamin concentrations were 735.5 ng/L (470 - 1388 ng/L) at diagnosis and did not significantly decrease postoperatively (P =0.122). Both at diagnosis and three months postoperatively 7/10 dogs had hypercobalaminemia. CONCLUSIONS: Serum concentrations of vitamin A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and folic acid significantly increase after surgical attenuation. Nevertheless, persistent hypercobalaminemia is suggestive of ongoing liver dysfunction, despite successful surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34991571/