title: D-penicillamine treatment of copper-associated hepatitis in Labrador retrievers.
abstract: d-penicillamine is effectively used in the lifelong treatment of copper toxicosis in Bedlington terriers and Wilson's disease in humans. A complex form of copper-associated hepatitis has recently been characterized in the Labrador retriever. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of d-penicillamine treatment for copper-associated hepatitis in this breed, to study the effects on hepatic copper, iron and zinc concentrations, and to evaluate parameters to predict optimal duration of treatment. Forty-three client owned Labrador retrievers that were diagnosed with increased hepatic copper were treated with d-penicillamine and underwent at least one follow-up examination including a liver biopsy for histopathological scoring of inflammatory lesions. Hepatic copper, iron and zinc concentrations were determined in the initial and follow-up biopsies by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The influence of initial hepatic copper concentration, sex, age, d-penicillamine formulation and the occurrence of side effects were investigated for their influence on hepatic copper concentration after a certain period of treatment by generalized mixed modelling. d-penicillamine proved to be effective in reducing hepatic copper concentration and associated inflammatory lesions. Parameters derived from the model can be used to estimate the necessary duration of d-penicillamine treatment for Labrador retrievers with increased hepatic copper concentration. Continuous, lifelong d-penicillamine treatment is not recommended in this breed, as there may be a risk for hepatic copper and zinc deficiency.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. h.fieten@uu.nl
authors: Hille
authors: H
authors: Fieten
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Dirksen
authors: Ted S G A M
authors: TS
authors: van den Ingh
authors: Esther A
authors: EA
authors: Winter
authors: Adrian L
authors: AL
authors: Watson
authors: Peter A J
authors: PA
authors: Leegwater
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Rothuizen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008664:Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D010396:Penicillamine