title: Spontaneous Course of Biliary Sludge Over 12 Months in Dogs with Ultrasonographically Identified Biliary Sludge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biliary sludge is associated with gallbladder (GB) dysmotility and mucus hypersecretion suggesting a link between biliary sludge and the formation of GB mucoceles (GBM). If biliary sludge progresses to GBM, treatment to reduce the production and progression of sludge is warranted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the course of biliary sludge in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven healthy, client-owned dogs ≥4 years of age screened for biliary sludge; 45 affected dogs identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational design. Serial ultrasound examinations were evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to monitor degree of sludge based on proportion of GB filled with sludge (mild [0.01-24.4%], moderate [24.5-49.4%], moderate to severe [49.5-74.4%], severe [74.5-100%]), gravity dependency of sludge, and GB dimensions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 year of follow-up, the degree of sludge was mild (34%), moderate (47%), moderate to severe (13%), severe (3%), or absent (3%). There was no significant difference in median degree of sludge over 1 year (P = .36). There were no significant changes in the gravity dependency of sludge over 1 year. A subset of dogs, 24%, with initial gravity-dependent sludge developed a combination of nondependent and dependent sludge. Dogs had resolved (2%), decreased (19%), static (40%), increased (29%), or recurrent (10%) sludge at the conclusion of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biliary sludge was prevalent, affected dogs remained asymptomatic, and it rarely resolves in healthy dogs over a period of 1 year. Some dogs developed nongravity-dependent sludge within 1 year, which might indicate changes in consistency of sludge.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: DeMonaco
authors.affiliation: Departments of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Departments of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Panciera
authors.affiliation: Departments of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Leib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Gallbladder; Microlithiasis; Mucocele; Ultrasonography