title: Clinical and clinicopathologic abnormalities in young dogs with acquired and congenital portosystemic shunts: 93 cases (2003-2008).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether clinical and clinicopathologic data could assist differentiation of congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSSs) from acquired portosystemic shunts (APSSs) in young dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs < 30 months of age with CPSSs (n = 62) or APSSs (31).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records from 3 referral centers identified 31 dogs with APSSs and 62 dogs with CPSSs diagnosed from July 2003 to July 2008. Signalment, clinical signs, physical examination, and clinicopathological data were recorded, and statistical analyses were performed to determine differences between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariable analysis showed APSS patients were older, heavier, and in poorer body condition, compared with CPSS patients. In CPSS patients, diarrhea was less prevalent, and neurologic signs were more prevalent. Ascites was more prevalent in APSS (Fisher exact test; OR, 50.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.2 to 409.7), with no significant difference in albumin concentration between groups. The logistic regression model used to assess clinicopathological parameters showed lower Hct (OR, 1.42 × 10(-12); 95% CI, 1.42 × 10(-17) to 4.0 × 10(-6)), higher mean corpuscular volume (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.50), and higher alanine aminotransferase concentrations (OR, 1.005; 95% CI, 1.001 to 1.009) were more likely in APSS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several clinicopathologic differences between dogs with congenital and acquired shunts were identified; however, assessed alone, these would be unlikely to enable differentiation between the 2 conditions. Awareness of the rarity of ascites in CPSS cases should prompt recognition of a likely diagnosis of APSS, allowing the veterinarian to target further diagnostics and counsel the owner appropriately.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, Cheshire, England. fadam@ndsr.co.uk
authors.forename: Fiona H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: German
authors.forename: J Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: Mary R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Trehy
authors.forename: Nat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Whitley
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collings
authors.forename: Penny J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Burrow
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies