CHRONIC HEPATITIS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN 34 DOGS

The aims of this study were to characterize the histological changes o bserved in 34 accessioned cases of canine chronic hepatitis and to cor relate these changes with the clinical pathological data. Cases of chr onic hepatitis were subdivided into 6 categories: chronic active hepat itis (10/34), chronic persistent hepatitis (7/32), chronic cholestatic hepatitis (6/34), fibrosing hepatitis with cirrhosis (3/34), chronic cholangiohepatitis (3/34), and miscellaneous secondary hepatitis (5/34 ). Iron accumulation was a consistent finding in all livers examined. Although all cases of chronic hepatitis had elevated liver enzymes, no correlation was detected between biochemical parameters and the sever ity of morphologic changes. Similarly, no correlation vias detected be tween rhodanine staining for copper and morphologic or biochemical ind icators of cholestasis. However, presence of copper correlated well wi th reticulo-fibrosis (r = 0.8) and bile duct hyperplasia, suggesting t hat changes in the hemodynamics of the hepatic acini due to fibrosis c ould influence storage of copper.