Assistant Professor Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Abstract: Background- Information is limited regarding the prevalence and importance of hepatic histologic abnormalities in dogs with gallbladder mucocele (GBM).
Objectives- To 1) report the prevalence of hepatic histologic abnormalities in GBM dogs 2) evaluate for an association between hepatic abnormalities and outcome in GBM dogs 3) evaluate whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) differs in GBM dogs with and without hepatic inflammatory lesions.
Animals- 52 dogs with grossly and histologically confirmed GBM.
Methods- Multicenter, retrospective study of GBM dogs undergoing cholecystectomy with concurrent liver biopsy. Archived histological sections of gallbladder and liver evaluated by a single blinded pathologist and pathologist-in-training. Proportions of dogs with each histologic abnormality alive vs. deceased at 1, 3 and 12 months post-cholecystectomy were compared. Mann-Whitney U was performed to determine if NLR differed in dogs with or without selected lesions.
Results- 51/52 (98%) dogs with GBM had at least one hepatic histologic abnormality. Hepatic fibrosis (30/52; 58%), biliary hyperplasia (29/52; 56%), and portal inflammation (25/52; 48%) were most common. Dogs with higher portal fibrosis scores were more likely to be deceased at 12 months compared to dogs with lower portal fibrosis scores (P = .03). Dogs with hepatic necrosis (P=.006) and cholangitis (P=.02) had higher NLRs compared to dogs without these lesions.
Conclusions and clinical importance: Histologic abnormalities of the liver are common in GBM dogs. A higher portal fibrosis score might be associated with decreased survival at 12 months post-cholecystectomy for GBM. An increase in NLR might predict hepatic necrosis and cholangitis in GBM dogs.
