Feline cholangiohepatitis complex.
Feline cholangiohepatitis complex causes a diffuse intrahepatic cholestasis of unknown etiology. Recognized histologic forms include acute suppurative cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis, long-term nonsuppurative cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis, and biliary cirrhosis. Treatment of cholangiohepatitis complex varies based on histologic type. Thus a liver biopsy is necessary for definitive diagnosis and treatment. Because cholangiohepatitis complex causes diffuse hepatic change, percutaneous needle biopsies are often sufficient for obtaining a diagnosis. Antibiotics are used to treat all forms of feline cholangiohepatitis complex, but steroids may be of equal or greater importance for use in the treatment of long-term nonsuppurative cholangiohepatitis. Prognosis is guarded for cats with any form of cholangiohepatitis complex due to the variable response to treatment seen in many cats. Spontaneous remission occasionally occurs.
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Animal Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary