Hepatic Hepcidin Gene Expression in Dogs with a Congenital Portosystemic Shunt

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2014-07, Vol.28 (4), p.1203-1205
• Main Authors: Frowde, P.E, Gow, A.G, Burton, C.A, Powell, R, Lipscomb, V.J, House, A.K, Mellanby, R.J, Tivers, M.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anemia; Animals; Dog Diseases - congenital; Dog Diseases - metabolism; Dog Diseases - surgery; Dogs; erythrocyte count; Erythrocyte Count - veterinary; Erythrocyte Indices; erythrocytes; Female; Gene Expression; Hepcidin; Hepcidins - biosynthesis; humans; Iron; Male; medicine; messenger RNA; pathophysiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Portal System - abnormalities; Portal System - surgery; Portosystemic shunt; Prospective Studies; qPCR
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12387

BACKGROUND: Microcytic anemia is common in dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) and typically resolves after surgical attenuation of the anomalous vessel. However, the pathophysiology of the microcytic anemia remains poorly understood. Hepcidin has been a key role in controlling iron transport in both humans and animals and in mediating anemia of inflammatory disease in humans. The role of hepcidin in the development of microcytic anemia in dogs with a cPSS has not been examined. HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression decreases, while red blood cell count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increase in dogs after surgical attenuation of a cPSS. ANIMALS: Eighteen client‐owned dogs with confirmed cPSS undergoing surgical attenuation. METHOD: Prospective study. Red blood cell count (RBC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), together with hepatic gene expression of hepcidin, were measured in dogs before and after partial attenuation of a cPSS. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in both RBC (median pre 6.17 × 10¹²/L, median post 7.08 × 10¹²/L, P