Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Young dog with suspected tiny liver blood vessel malformations
By Schermerhorn, T et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1997·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Suspected microscopic hepatic arteriovenous fistulae in a young dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young dog with ascites (fluid in the abdomen) was suspected to have a rare condition called microscopic hepatic arteriovenous fistulae, which can lead to portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the liver). This condition is unusual but should be considered in young dogs showing signs of portal hypertension or fluid buildup. While most cases involve larger connections between blood vessels, this case suggests that smaller, undetectable connections might also cause similar symptoms. Further investigation and treatment would be necessary to manage the dog's condition effectively.
People also search for: young dog ascites treatment · portal hypertension in dogs · liver problems in dogs
Abstract
Portal hypertension can develop from any disorder that obstructs portal blood flow and may cause ascites in young dogs. Anomalous hepatic arteriovenous (AV) connections are rare but should be suspected in any young dog with portal hypertension or ascites. All previous reports of dogs with hepatic AV fistulae have documented macroscopic connections between the arterial and venous systems. Identical clinical signs and histopathologic findings can develop in dogs in which a macroscopic hepatic AV connection cannot be detected. Microscopic AV connections may be responsible for clinical signs in these dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9215415/