Clinical Features, Intestinal Histopathology, and Outcome in Protein‐Losing Enteropathy in Yorkshire Terrier Dogs

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2014-03, Vol.28 (2), p.331-337
• Main Authors: Simmerson, S.M, Armstrong, P.J, Wünschmann, A, Jessen, C.R, Crews, L.J, Washabau, R.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; ascites; Biopsy; blood; death; diarrhea; discriminant analysis; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Duodenum - pathology; Endoscopic biopsy; Endoscopy; Female; females; gastrointestinal system; glucocorticoids; growth retardation; histopathology; Hypocalcemia; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Inflammatory bowel disease; Intestines - pathology; Lymphangiectasia; Male; males; medicine; Original; Protein-Losing Enteropathies - diagnosis; Protein-Losing Enteropathies - drug therapy; Protein-Losing Enteropathies - pathology; Protein-Losing Enteropathies - veterinary; Proteins; remission; Retrospective Studies; terriers; Ultrasonic imaging; urea nitrogen; vomiting
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12291

BACKGROUND: A poorly understood protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE) disorder has been reported in Yorkshire Terrier dogs. OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical features, intestinal histopathology, and outcome in Yorkshire Terrier dogs with PLE, and to identify variables predictive of outcome. ANIMALS: Thirty client‐owned Yorkshire Terrier dogs with PLE. METHODS: Retrospective study. Records of dogs with a diagnosis of PLE were reviewed. Intestinal histopathology was interpreted using the World Small Animal Veterinary Association gastrointestinal histopathology classification system. Discriminate analysis techniques were used to identify variables predictive of outcome. RESULTS: Females outnumbered males (20/30). Median age was 7 years (range 1–12). Common clinical signs were diarrhea (20/30), vomiting (11), ascites and abdominal distension (11), and respiratory difficulty (8). Histopathologic abnormalities included villous lymphatic dilatation, crypt lesions, villous stunting, and variable increases in cellularity of the lamina propria. All dogs were treated with glucocorticoids. Of 23 dogs with long‐term follow‐up, 9 had complete, and 3 had partial, resolution of signs, and 11 failed to respond to treatment. Median survival of responders was 44 months and of nonresponders was 12 months, with 4 dogs experiencing peracute death. Vomiting, monocytosis, severity of hypoalbuminemia, low blood urea nitrogen concentration, and villous blunting were predictive of survival