Liver Disease 1 Flashcards
ALP is a ______ enzyme and ALT is a _____ enzyme
cholestatic
hepatocellular damage
which liver enzyme can become increased via steroids or phenobarb in dogs?
ALP
why is ALP high in young animals?
bone growth
why is an increase ALP or ALT of ANY degree in a cat significant
because the half life is so short, so if it’s above reference range, it is something to worry about
what are the markers of liver dysfunction and what is important to remember about them?
hyperbilirubinemia
hyppcholesterolemia
low BUN
hypoglycemia
hypoalbuminemia
**these are neither sensitive nor specific for liver dysfunction, aka, for these to happen the liver has to be REALLY sick
the ‘best’ liver function test we have is _____ , and it is performed via…
bile acid test
12h fasted preserum bile acid, then feed high calorie meal, then 2h later post serum bile acid
a bile acids test is not sensitive but is specific for liver dysfunction, however there is one exception which is:….
it is sensitive for portosystemic shunts
why does liver disease cause a decreased USG
because the kidney filters all the crap that the liver could not break down and all this crap brings water with it!
in _____ bilirubinuria is ALWAYS significant, but in _____ it can be normal
cats NEVER NORMAL
dogs can be normal
what are some CBC findings that are consistent with liver disease
anemia: chronic disease, GI bleeding, coagulopathy
microcytosis
leukocytosis
thrombocytopenia
large breed dogs get ______ PSS and small breeds get _____ PSS
large breeds get intrahepatic
small breeds get extrahepatic
what did serge refer to as “portosystemic shunt’s nice cousin”?
portal vein hypoplasia (microvascular dysplasia_
with extrahepatic PSS, it is usually _______ that shunts blood to the azygous vein or caudal vena cava instead of the liver
one vessel
a 5 month old yorkie named Lady Snugglebutt von Wigglepaws presents for: PUPD, ataxia, and “weird” behavior per the owner, like random barking and growling. Owner says it’s really bad after she eats food. Number one ddx? what diagnostics do you wanna do?
EHPSS
CBC: microcytic normochromic NR anemia
Chem: decreased BUN, low albumin, hypoglycemia, low cholesterol, high ALT and ALP
UA: isosthenuria, urate crystals
Bile acids: if over 100, this is EHPSS, if lower than 100, microvascular dysplasia
true or false: small breeds are prone to hypoglycemia
true
Lady Snugglebutt von Wigglepaws is diagnosed with an EHPSS. what treatment option is best for her?
surgery to close the shunt
medical treatment: liver food, metronidazole, lactulose, ompeprazole **BUT this is not recommended as sole therapy, it’s better done pre surgery rather than instead of surgery. if the client has no money you can go with this option
how do clinical signs of portal vein hypoplasia differ from PSS?
dogs are usually the same breeds and same age, but they usually have no clinical signs and no consequences!
might have a high ALT and ALP
bile acids will be below 100
dont need treatment
hepatic lipidosis os secondary to
catabolism in anorexia
hepatic lipidosis can happen in _____ in cats and it does not have to be caused by full anorexia, it can be _______
days
decreased appetite over several days
the two causes of hepatic lipidosis are
primary: complete loss of appetite like someone forgets to feed the cat on vacatrion
secondary: something else makes them not want to eat OR things that cause insulin resistance like pancreatitis, GI disease, diabetes, etc