HEMATOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL-ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH INDUCED EXTRA-HEPATIC BILE-DUCT OBSTRUCTION IN THE CAT

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (10) , 1822-1829
Abstract
Bile duct obstruction was induced in 6 cats by surgical ligation and transection of the common bile duct. Clinical and laboratory changes were monitored weekly for 25-54 days. Clinical signs of obstruction were similar in all cats and included anorexia, pyrexia, lethargy, intermittent vomiting, weight loss, palpable gallbladder, hepatomegaly and bleeding tendencies. Tissue jaundice and alcoholic feces were evident grossly as early as postsurgical day (PSD) 4 with a mean onset of jaundice at PSD 5.3 .+-. 0.4. Hematologic changes were initially characterized by a mild neutrophilic leukocytosis that increased with the chronicity of bile duct obstruction. Regenerative anemia developed in 4 cats associated with gastrointestinal blood loss. Acute serum biochemical changes were characterized by a marked increase in the mean values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol and Cu. Comparatively, only moderate increases in mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity were observed. Mean total bilirubin values increased remarkably at postsurgical week (PSW) 1, reaching a maximal value of 23.1 .+-. 4.4 mg/dl at PSW 3 with 71.6 .+-. 2.7% direct bilirubin. With chronicity of bile duct obstruction ranging from PSW 3 to PSW 7, the mean serum values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, serum alkaline phosphatase, and total and direct bilirubin stabilized and then declined, whereas the increased mean serum Cu values persisted. At PSD 25-54, hepatic Cu values and serum bile acids were markedly increased. Seemingly, clinicopathologic changes of induced cholestatic hepatic injury depended largely on the duration of biliary obstruction. In addition to the conventionally used liver enzyme measurements, serum values of bile acids, total cholesterol and Cu may be of value in the assessment of clinical cholestatic hepatic injury in the cat.