Copper-associated chronic hepatitis in Labrador Retrievers.
J Vet Intern Med
; 20(4): 856-61, 2006.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16955809
ABSTRACT
This study summarizes the clinical and pathologic findings in 15 Labrador Retrievers with copper-associated chronic hepatitis (CACH). Our hypothesis was that this form of hepatitis is caused by a defect in hepatic copper metabolism, which most likely originates from a genetic defect. Affected Labradors consisted of 11 female and 4 male Labrador Retrievers. Eight family members of 2 of these patients were examined prospectively, as were 6 unrelated healthy Labrador Retrievers. All dogs were registered at the breed club. The average age at clinical presentation was 7 years (range, 2.5-10.5 years). All dogs were presented for anorexia, which was associated with vomiting in 8 patients. The diagnosis of CACH was based on histologic examination of liver biopsy specimens in all dogs, including semiquantitation of copper. A disproportionate increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity relative to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, as well as the centrolobular localization of copper and the association of copper accumulation with hepatic lesions, suggested a primary copper storage disease rather than primary cholestatic liver disease causing copper accumulation. Mean hepatic copper concentration measured in related Labradors was 1,317 microg/g dry weight liver (range, 402-2,576 microg/g). Mean hepatic copper concentration of unrelated normal Labradors was 233 microg/g dry weight liver (range, 120-304 microg/g). Our findings support the hypothesis that a hereditary form of hepatitis occurs in Labrador retrievers and is caused by a defect in hepatic copper metabolism.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Copper
/
Dog Diseases
/
Hepatitis, Chronic
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Vet Intern Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA INTERNA
/
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Netherlands