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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Serum bile acid concentrations, histopathological features, ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(2); 644-650; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12551

Serum bile acid concentrations, histopathological features, and short-, and long-term survival in horses with hepatic disease.

Abstract: Serum bile acid concentrations (SBA) and a histopathological biopsy score [Equine Vet J 35 (2003) 534] are used prognostically in equine hepatic disease. Objective: Histopathologic features and scores, but not SBA, differ between survivors and nonsurvivors and correlate with histopathologic evidence of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Methods: Retrospective study. Records (1999-2011) of horses with hepatic disease diagnosed by biopsy and with concurrent measurements of SBA. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Biopsies were examined for inflammatory cell infiltration including type and distribution, fibrosis, irreversible cytopathology affecting hepatocytes, hemosiderin, or other pigment deposition and bile duct proliferation. SBA, histopathological findings and a histological score [Equine Vet J 35 (2003) 534] were compared between short- (survival to discharge) and long-term (>6 months) survivors and correlations between SBA and histopathological findings investigated. Results: Of 81 cases 90% survived short-term and 83% long-term. Short-term and long-term nonsurvival were associated with SBA (P = .009; P = .006), overall (P = .001; P = .002) and parenchymal (short-term only; P = .01) inflammation, portal and bridging fibrosis (all P < .001), apoptosis or single cell necrosis (P < .001; P = .008), hemosiderin deposition in hepatocytes (P = .011; P = .028), biliary (both P < .001), vascular (P = .003; P = .045) and endothelial (P < .001; P = .02) hyperplasia, nucleic changes (P = .004; P < .001) and the histopathological score (both P < .001). SBA were significantly and positively correlated with overall (P = .001), parenchymal (P < .001) and portal (P = .004) inflammation and portal (P = .036) and bridging (P = .002) fibrosis. Conclusions: SBA, histopathological findings and scores differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. SBA concentrations are associated with inflammation and fibrosis suggesting interference with hepatic function. A histopathological score >2 and, less so, SBA >20 μmol/L are specific but not sensitive indicators of nonsurvival.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-31 PubMed ID: 25818219PubMed Central: PMC4895510DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12551Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study shows that serum bile acid concentrations, histopathology scores and findings, play significant roles in determining the survival outcomes of horses with liver diseases. Higher concentrations of these factors are associated with greater inflammation and fibrosis, indicating impaired hepatic function.

Research Methodology

  • The study is a retrospective cohort study conducted on the records of horses with liver disease diagnosed through a biopsy, from 1999 to 2011, and concurrent measurements of Serum Bile Acid (SBA).
  • The collected biopsies were examined for a number of factors: the type and distribution of inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis, irreversible cytopathology affecting hepatocytes, hemosiderin or other pigment deposition, and bile duct proliferation.
  • The SBA, histopathological findings and histological score were then compared between short-term survivors (those who survived to discharge) and long-term survivors (those who survived beyond 6 months).

Results of the Study

  • Out of 81 cases, 90% survived short-term and 83% survived long-term.
  • The study found associations between SBA and both short-term and long-term survivability (P=.009; P=.006). Other factors such as overall and parenchymal inflammation, portal and bridging fibrosis, apoptosis or single cell necrosis, hemosiderin deposition in hepatocytes, biliary, vascular and endothelial hyperplasia, nucleic changes, and the histopathological score were also associated with survival outcomes.
  • SBA concentrations were found to significantly and positively correlated with overall, parenchymal, and portal inflammation as well as portal and bridging fibrosis.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that SBA, histopathological scores, and findings vary substantially between survivors and non-survivors of hepatic disease in horses.
  • SBA concentrations have a significant correlation with inflammation and fibrosis, hinting towards interference with normal liver function.
  • A histopathological score higher than 2 and, to a lesser extent, an SBA concentration higher than 20 μmol/L were found to be specific, but not sensitive indicators of non-survival.

Cite This Article

APA
Dunkel B, Jones SA, Pinilla MJ, Foote AK. (2015). Serum bile acid concentrations, histopathological features, and short-, and long-term survival in horses with hepatic disease. J Vet Intern Med, 29(2), 644-650. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12551

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 644-650

Researcher Affiliations

Dunkel, B
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
Jones, S A
    Pinilla, M J
      Foote, A K

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Bile Acids and Salts / blood
        • Biopsy / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Liver Diseases / blood
        • Liver Diseases / pathology
        • Liver Diseases / veterinary
        • Retrospective Studies
        • Survival Analysis

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 3 times.
        1. Jager MC, Choi E, Tomlinson JE, Van de Walle G. Naturally acquired equine parvovirus-hepatitis is associated with a wide range of hepatic lesions in horses. Vet Pathol 2024 May;61(3):442-452.
          doi: 10.1177/03009858231214024pubmed: 38018088google scholar: lookup
        2. Jaramillo FM, Piñeros DDV, Corrêa RR, Pogliani FC, Cogliati B, Baccarin RYA. Efficacy of oral Cynara scolymus and Silybum marianum on toxicity of imidocarb dipropionate in horses. Vet Rec Open 2020;7(1):e000416.
          doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2020-000416pubmed: 33178437google scholar: lookup
        3. DeNotta SL, Divers TJ. Clinical Pathology in the Adult Sick Horse: The Gastrointestinal System and Liver. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Apr;36(1):105-120.
          doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.11.004pubmed: 31982231google scholar: lookup
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