Primary hepatitis in dogs: a retrospective review (2002-2006).
BACKGROUND
Little is known about etiology, disease progression, treatment outcome, survival time, and factors affecting prognosis in dogs with primary hepatitis (PH).


OBJECTIVE
To review retrospectively different forms of hepatitis in a referral population, by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Standardization criteria.


METHODS
One-hundred and one dogs examined for histologically confirmed PH between 2002 and 2006. Dogs with nonspecific reactive hepatitis were excluded.


METHODS
Retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed for prevalence, signalment, clinical and clinicopathologic manifestation, outcome, survival time, and prognostic factors for shortened survival.


RESULTS
PH occurred in 0.5% of dogs in this referral population. Acute (AH) and chronic hepatitis (CH) were diagnosed in 21 and 67 dogs, respectively. Progression from AH to CH occurred in 5/12 of the repeatedly sampled dogs. CH was idiopathic in 43 (64%) dogs, and was associated with copper accumulation in 24 (36%) dogs. Median survival time was longer in dogs with AH than in dogs with CH (either idiopathic or copper associated), and dogs with lobular dissecting hepatitis had the shortest survival time. Prognostic factors predicting shortened survival were associated with decompensated liver function and cirrhosis at initial examination.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of PH in dogs is CH. Previous studies appear to have underestimated the etiologic role of copper in both AH and CH. Prognosis is reduced in dogs with hepatic cirrhosis or cirrhosis-related clinical findings. Further research into etiology and treatment effectiveness in all PH forms is needed.
Poldervaart
J H
JH
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.h.poldervaart@students.uu.nl
Favier
R P
RP
Penning
L C
LC
van den Ingh
T S G A M
TS
Rothuizen
J
J
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies