Introduction
- Excessive storage of copper in liver.
- Cause : autosomal recessive.
- Signs : liver failure (acute or chronic), rarely hemolytic crisis.
- Diagnosis : liver biopsy.
- Treatment : supportive, eg diet; copper chelating agents, eg D-penicillinamine.
- Prognosis : reasonable, some → cirrhosis.
- See also: Acute liver disease
.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Ascites.
- Jaundice.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
- Other forms of chronic hepatic disorders:
- Infections (infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, etc).
- Drug-induced, eg anticonvulsants.
- Lobular dissecting hepatitis.
- Idiopathic chronic hepatitis.
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Reasonable. (Note: it usually requires months to years of treatment to produce significant decreases in hepatic copper.)
- Poor: if advanced when diagnosed, may → cirrhosis and liver failure.
Expected response to treatment
- Improved liver function.
- Decreased copper accumulated in liver - may take months/years of D-pencillinamine medication.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Too advanced by time of diagnosis.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed.
- Holems N G et al(1998) DNA marker C04107 for copper toxicosis in a population of Bedlinton Terriers in the United Kingdon. Vet Rec 142 (14), 351-352.
- Yuzbagiyan-Gurkan V et al(1997) Linkage of a microsatellite marker to the canine copper toxicosis locus in Bedlington Terriers. Am J Vet Res 58 (1), 23-27.
Other sources of information
- Johnson S E (2000) Chronic hepatic disorders. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 5th edn. Eds: S J Ettinger & E C Feldman. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. pp 1298-1325.
