equine liver disease and hyperlipaemia Flashcards
what are the clinical signs of liver disease
jaundice, weight loss, depression and CNS signs
what are the specific CNS signs associated with hepatic encephalopathy
central blindness, head pressing, compulsive walking, drowsy, yawning
what liver enzymes are specific for liver disease in the horse
AST, GLDH, LDH
what liver enzymes are specific for biliary disease
GGT
ALP
increased liver enxymes show liver damage as opposed to liver function. what do we measure for liver function
bile acids
what is the characteristic lesion found on histology of the liver following ragwort poisoning, pattersons curse or firweed (pyrrolizidine alkaloids)
megalocytosis!
this occurs due to ragwort being anti mitotic!
disease is end stage when clinical signs are seen. poor prognosis
what is hyperlipaemia
abnormal accumulation of lipids in the blood due to excessive fat mobilization. Liver has relativley poor ketogenic activity therefore cannot keep up
how is hyperlipaemia diagnosed and treated
clinical signs are non specific.
Serum is dense and cloudy
>5mmol/L triglyceride.
treat by force feeding animal glucose
who is susceptible to hyperlipidaemia
donkeys and minature horses
what is tyzzers disease and who is affected
tyzzers disease is an infection of clostridium piliforme that destroyes hepatocytes.
foals between 1-6 weeks old are affected and is usually fatal
on blood sample of a horse with liver disease what values will be raised/decreased
RAISED
ALT, GGT, GLDH
globulin
triglycerides
ammonia
REDUCED
urea
protein
what would increased serum amyloid A and fibrinogen be a sign of
chronic inflammation.
in a liver case it would be suggestive of a chronic active hepatitis
why is lactulose often given to horses with hepatic encephalopathy
lactulose acidifies lumen of gut which converts NH3 into NH4+ therefore reducing ammonia absorbtion
why is corticosteroids contrindicated in cases of hyperlipaemia
because it antagonises insulin.
insulin inhibits fat breakdown
what is the active ingredient in milk thistle and how does it work
Silymarin- has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
