A SYNDROME RESEMBLING IDIOPATHIC NONCIRRHOTIC PORTAL-HYPERTENSION IN 4 YOUNG DOBERMAN-PINSCHERS

We describe 4 young male Doberman Pinschers (3 littermates and 1 unrel ated dog) with a syndrome resembling idiopathic or noncirrhotic portal hypertension of humans. Each dog was evaluated for a hepatopathy resu lting in portal hypertension, development of portosystemic collateral vessels, and hepatic encephalopathy. These dogs differ from previous r eports of young dogs with hepatic insufficiency associated with portal hypertension and acquired portal systemic shunting by their lack of i ntrahepatic arteriovenous fistulae, portal vein atresia, or intrahepat ic fibrosis. Clinicopathologic features included erythrocyte microcyto sis, normal to mildly increased liver enzyme activities, increased con centrations of serum bile acids, reduced plasma indocyanine green clea rance, and normal total bilirubin concentration. Abdominal ultrasonogr aphy disclosed a small liver and portosystemic collateral vessels. Rad iographic imaging studies confirmed hepatofugal portal circulation and discounted hepatic arteriovenous fistulae. Histopathologic features i n liver tissue from each dog were similar and consistent in all sectio ns examined. Common findings included increased cross-sectional views of hepatic arterioles; hepatic lobular atrophy; scanty increase in con nective tissue around some large portal triads; and absence of inflamm ation, disturbed lobular architecture, bile duct proliferation, or int rahepatic cholestasis.