2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Presenting clinical signs included vomiting (72.2%), lethargy (70.4%) and inappetence (64.8%). The majority of dogs (49/50) had liver enzyme elevations, hyperbilirubinemia (32/50) and hypercholesterolemia (24/43). Ultrasonographic abnormalities of the liver and/or biliary tree were seen in 84% of cases. Histopathology revealed that 53/54 cases had neutrophilic cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis while 1 case had lymphocytic cholangitis. The majority (42/54) were chronic. Histopathology revealed concurrent gallbladder disease in 46.2% of cases and biliary tract obstruction in 42.6% of cases. Seventeen of 36 biliary and 11/25 liver cultures were positive for bacterial growth; Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were most common. The median patient survival was 671 days (CI 95% 114, 1426). Controlling for age, dogs that did not have a cholecystectomy had a 2.1 greater hazard ratio for death (P = 0.001, CI 95% 1.0, 4.3) compared to dogs that had a cholecystectomy. Controlling for cholecystectomy, dogs greater than 13 years of age had an increased risk of death (P = 0.037, CI 95% 1.9, 13.2) compared to those less than 13 years.