Small Animal Liver Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is the main blood supply to the liver from the GI tract?
Hepatic portal vein
What are the important metabolic processes of the liver?
Urea Cycle
Glycogen Storage
Protein Synthesis
Cholesterol Processing
How do onions cause liver toxicity?
Remove glutathione = oxidative damage
Heinz body anemia
What on the biochemistry panel tells you the liver is not functioning well?
Glucose
BUN
Albumin
Cholesterol
What do pre- and post-prandial bile acids tell us?
Liver function test
What biochemistry values are indicative of hepatocellular injury/damage/necrosis?
ALT (most specific)
AST (mm damage)
NOT loss of function
What causes pre-hepatic hyperbilirubinemia?
Low PCV/normal TP
e.g. RBC hemolysis (IMHA)
What causes post-hepatic hyperbilirubinemia?
Gall bladder mucocele
EHBO
Pancreatitis
What total bilirubin value is considered hyperbilirubinemia?
> 0.2mG/dL
When is a bile acids test redundant?
If patient is already hyperbilirubinemic (icteric)
What biochemistry values are indicative of cholestasis?
ALP
GGT
What can cause increases in ALP?
E. coli
Dental disease
Hyperthyroidism
Cushing’s disease
When are ALP levels induced?
Prednisone
Phenobarbital
Canines only
What are causes of a primary hepatopathy?
ALT (AST)
Inflammation, infection, necrosis, immune, fibrosis/cirrhosis, neoplasia
What are causes of secondary (reactive) hepatopathy?
ALP (GGT)
Medications, inflammation/infection, endocrine, hypoxia
What are radiographic signs of pancreatitis?
Soft tissue opacity
Decreased serosal detail
Wide pyloric duodenal angle
Gas-filled duodenum
Corrugated small intestines
What are clinical signs of a congenital portosystemic shunt?
CNS = hepatic encephalopathy
Urinary = pu/pd, stones
Growth = poor doer
GI = vomiting, diarrhea
What on the biochemistry profile is indicative of a congenital portosystemic shunt?
Glucose (L)
BUN (L)
Albumin (L)
Cholesterol (L)
ALP (H)
AST (H)
Do not usually develop ascites or turn yellow
What on a CBC is indicative of a congenital portosystemic shunt?
Key = microcytosis
Normocytic, normochromic nonregenerative anemia
What on a urinalysis is indicative of a congenital portosystemic shunt?
Low specific gravity (pu/pd)
Ammonium (bi)urate crystals
What are key diagnostics for a congenital portosystemic shunt?
Bile acids = liver function test, useful when shunt is expected
Abdominal ultrasound
What are clinical signs of the “quiet” PSS?
Undersized, elevated bile acids
No shunt visible on ultrasound
Histopathology = hepatic changes = shunt
What are clinical signs of copper-associated hepatitis?
Anorexia, lethargy
Vomiting
Weight loss
Jaundice
Hepatic encephalopathy
Ascites
PU/PD
What lab abnormalities are associated with copper-associated hepatitis?
ALT (ALP)
T-bili
Clotting times
Decreased PCV
