Chapter 13 - Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Liver and Kidney Diseases

Abstract

Visceral organs such as the liver and kidney are occasional subjects of autoimmune attack. Thus dogs, especially Doberman Pinschers, may develop a chronic active hepatitis as a result of the production of autoantibodies directed against hepatocyte membrane proteins. The disease results in liver cell destruction and eventual liver failure. Autoimmune kidney diseases are not common in domestic species, although antiglomerular basement membrane disease has been recorded in horses and some dogs. More commonly, immune complexes originating in autoimmune diseases are deposited in the kidneys. These include immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and lupus nephritis. The immune complexes in IgA nephropathy result from autoantibodies directed against underglycosylated IgA. Those in lupus nephritis are directed against nucleic acids. Vasculitides of autoimmune origin such as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis and antiphospholipid syndrome affect small blood vessels throughout the body, including those of the glomeruli. Immune complex–mediated glomerulopathies of unknown origin such as those that develop in swine glomerulopathy, Finnish-Landrace glomerulopathy, or canine glomerulopathies can also result in kidney failure.