Abstract
Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. However, the association between serum lipids and canine chronic hepatitis remains unknown. In this study, serum lipids, hepatic profiles, and hepatic ultrasound scores of healthy dogs and dogs with chronic hepatitis were evaluated. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in dogs with chronic hepatitis. There were 62.2% of dogs with chronic hepatitis accompanied by hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, or both. Positive correlations were observed between serum ALT and cholesterol (r = 0.8287, p < 0.01), serum ALP and cholesterol (r = 0.8436, p < 0.01), serum GGT and cholesterol (r = 0.5640, p < 0.01), serum bile acid and cholesterol (r = 0.3310, p < 0.01) and serum ALP and triglycerides (r = 0.2582, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between ultrasound scores of diseased dogs with and without hypertriglyceridemia and diseased dogs with and without hypercholesterolemia. Canine chronic hepatitis is associated with hyperlipidemia. A significant positive association was identified between hyperlipidemia, especially hypercholesterolemia, liver enzymes, and bile acid concentration in dogs suffering from chronic hepatitis. The underlying mechanisms connecting hyperlipidemia and canine chronic hepatitis remain elusive.
Highlights
Chronic hepatitis is a common liver disease in dogs [1], which is characterized histologically by hepatocellular apoptosis or necrosis, inflammation of hepatic parenchyma, and fibrosis
The elevation of triglyceride, cholesterol, or both triglyceride and cholesterol was found in 62.2% of dogs with chronic hepatitis
Hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia alone were presented in 33.3% (15/45) and 11.1% (5/45) of dogs with chronic hepatitis, respectively
Summary
Chronic hepatitis is a common liver disease in dogs [1], which is characterized histologically by hepatocellular apoptosis or necrosis, inflammation of hepatic parenchyma, and fibrosis. The majority of dogs with chronic hepatitis are classified as idiopathic due to the unknown pathogenesis of this disease. Autoimmunity may play an etiological role in canine chronic hepatitis [2,3]. Dogs are diagnosed with idiopathic or immunemediated chronic hepatitis after the elimination of infectious, metabolic, and toxicological causes, e.g., copper toxicosis [3]. Specific criteria to discriminate immune-mediated hepatitis in dogs have not been developed. The most common clinical pathology of chronic hepatitis is elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) may be present in diseased dogs.
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