Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute liver failure in 49 dogs - symptoms and outcomes
By Lester, Carrie et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2016·Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective evaluation of acute liver failure in dogs (1995-2012): 49 cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 49 dogs with acute liver failure (ALF) showed symptoms like not eating, vomiting, and neurological issues. Many of these dogs had high bilirubin levels and other blood abnormalities. The causes of ALF varied, with some cases linked to cancer or possible exposure to toxins. Unfortunately, only 7 of the dogs survived to go home, and those that did had better liver enzyme levels and fewer complications during their hospital stay. This highlights the seriousness of liver failure in dogs and the need for better treatment options.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical presentation and outcome of dogs with acute liver failure (ALF). DESIGN: Retrospective case series from January 1995 to December 2012. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Forty-nine dogs were diagnosed with ALF defined as the acute onset of clinical signs accompanied by serum hyperbilirubinemia and coagulopathy (prothrombin time >1.5 times the upper limit of the reference interval) with or without signs of hepatic encephalopathy. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for clinical presentation, history, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic data, diagnostic imaging findings, hepatic histopathology, treatment, and outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Presenting signs included anorexia (28/49, 57%), vomiting (25/49, 51%), neurologic abnormalities (17/49, 35%), and polydipsia/polyuria (10/49, 20%). Neurologic impairment compatible with hepatic encephalopathy occurred at some point during hospitalization in 28/49 (57%) of dogs. Common clinicopathologic abnormalities on presentation other than hyperbilirubinemia and increased serum liver enzyme activity included thrombocytopenia (25/49, 51%), hypoalbuminemia (23/49, 46%), leukocytosis (17/49, 34%), anemia (14/49, 29%), hypokalemia (13/49, 27%), and hypoglycemia (10/49, 20%). The causes of ALF included neoplasia (13/49, 27%), presumptive leptosporosis (4/49, 8%), and ischemia (1/49, 2%). The remaining cases were idiopathic although 15 of these dogs had exposure to possible hepatotoxins. Common lesions in the 35/49 (71%) dogs that had hepatic histopathology were necrosis (19/39, 48%), lipidosis (16/39, 41%), vacuolar change (7/49, 14%), and inflammation (4/49, 8%). Complications included ascites (20/49, 41%), bleeding tendencies (14/49, 29%), pancreatitis (12/49, 24%), and acute tubular necrosis (11/49, 22%). Seven (14%) dogs survived to discharge. Survivors had higher alanine aminotransferase activity, and were more likely to maintain normal albumin concentrations and not develop clinical bleeding or ascites during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Canine ALF is associated with multiple etiologies and a high mortality rate. Strategies to increase survival are urgently required.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27147282/