Hepatic encephalomyelopathy in a calf with congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS)

Marçal, Valéria; Oevermann, Anna; Bley, T.; Pfister, Patrizia; Miclard, Julien

doi:10.4142/jvs.2008.9.1.113

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Although rare, portosystemic shunt is another anomaly of calves; in one affected calf, the connection between the cranial mesenteric vein and the caudal vena cava could be visualised [ 17 ]. In another calf with portosystemic shunt, the lesions found at necropsy were characterized by increased numbers of arteriolar profiles and hypoplasia to absence of portal veins [ 18 ]. In a calf with abdominal situs inversus, two speens could be detected at necropsy [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonography of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in healthy calves from birth to 104 days of age

Braun

Krüger

2013

Acta Vet Scand

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BackgroundMany of the ultrasonographic abdominal findings of adult cattle probably also apply to calves. However, significant changes associated with ruminal growth and transition from a milk to a roughage diet occur in young calves during the first few months, and it can be expected that ultrasonographic features of organs adjacent to the rumen such as spleen and liver also undergo significant changes. These have not been investigated to date and therefore the goal of this study was to describe ultrasonographic findings of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in six healthy calves from birth to 104 days of age. Standing calves were examined ultrasonographically six times at three-week intervals starting on the first or second day of life using a 5.0-MHz transducer and techniques described previously.ResultsThe spleen was imaged on the left at the 5th to 12th intercostal spaces. The dorsal and ventral visible limits ran from cranioventral to caudodorsal because of superimposition of the lungs. The size of the spleen was largest at the 7th and 8th intercostal spaces and the maximum thickness was measured at the 9th to 12th intercostal spaces. The liver was seen in all calves on the right and could be imaged at the 5th to 12th intercostal spaces and the area caudal to the last rib. Similar to the spleen, the dorsal visible margin of the liver ran parallel to the ventral border of the lungs. The visible size of the liver was largest at the 8th to 11th intercostal spaces and the maximum thickness was measured at the 8th and 9th intercostal spaces. The parenchymal pattern consisted of numerous fine echoes homogeneously distributed over the entire organ. The gallbladder was most commonly seen at the 9th intercostal space and was circular, oval or pear-shaped on ultrasonograms. It extended beyond the ventral border of the liver depending on the amount of bile. The caudal vena cava was triangular in cross section but sometimes had a round or oval profile and was always seen in at least one intercostal space. The maximum circumference was measured at the 10th and 11th intercostal spaces. The portal vein was circular or oval in cross section and was characterised by stellate ramifications branching into the liver parenchyma. The portal vein could always be imaged at the 7th to 11th intercostal spaces and its mean diameter at the 9th to 11th intercostal spaces ranged from 1.2 cm to 1.8 cm.ConclusionsThe ultrasonographic findings of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in six healthy Holstein-Friesian calves from birth to 104 days of age serve as reference values for the examination of these anatomical structures in diseased calves.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonography of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in healthy calves from birth to 104 days of age

Braun

Krüger

2013

Acta Vet Scand

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“…The formation of Alzheimer type II astrocytes in case of hepatic encephalopathy as described by some authors (van den Ingh and others 1990, Fortier and others 1996, Marcal and others 2008) is said to be due to an ammonia-associated accumulation of glutamine in the astrocytes with a consecutive increase of intracellular osmotic pressure and hence, cellular oedema (Haussinger and others 2000, Norenberg and others 2005). In the present case, these pathognomonic Alzheimer type II astrocytes were also detected and underline the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hepatic encephalopathy is a rarely diagnosed disease complex in our referral institution. In calves, it is mostly caused by a portosystemic shunt, which has only been reported sporadically (Keane and Blackwell 1983, van den Ingh and others 1990, Olchowy and others 1992, Fortier and others 1996, Marcal and others 2008). During the first weeks of life, calves with a portosystemic shunt appear to be normal without showing clinical signs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tenesmus in a calf with hepatic encephalopathy

Wieland¹,

Langenmayer²,

Matiasek³

et al. 2015

Vet Record Case Reports

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A 7.6-week-old male Simmental calf was presented because of vehement tenesmus. Clinical neurological examination revealed sensomotoric dysfunction. Clinical pathology indicated a severe liver dystrophy and cholestasis. Laboratory parameters of cerebrospinal fluid were within the reference ranges. Investigation of concentration of blood ammonia showed an extensive elevation. On ultrasonographic examination, severe dilation of the bile ducts and gall bladder was detected. Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed and the animal was euthanased due to the severity of the underlying liver dystrophy as determined by clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic examination. Pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis.

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“…Hepatic encephalomyelopathy has recently been reported in a calf (Marcal et al . 2008) which presented with weakness and ataxia, similar to the horse described by Müller et al .…”

Section: Clinical Commentarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait deficits in liver disease: Hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic myelopathy

Nout

2010

Equine Veterinary Education

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Summary In this issue, the unusual clinical presentation of a horse diagnosed is described with severe liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. The horse initially presented for thoracic and pelvic limb ataxia and weakness, and signs of forebrain disease were not apparent until later in the disease process. The typical pathology of central nervous system disease associated with liver disease is related to encephalopathy and forebrain disease; however, the spinal cord is occasionally also involved. Hepatic myelopathy is a rare syndrome usually associated with surgical or acquired portosystemic shunts, liver cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension in man. Where a gliopathy is the most prominent pathological feature seen in hepatic encephalopathy, in hepatic myelopathy the most remarkable feature is demyelination of the corticospinal tracts of the distal cervical and thoracic spinal cord with occasional axon loss. The clinical signs of hepatic myelopathy are spastic paresis/paralysis with normal sensory findings and preserved sphincter function. The prognosis for hepatic myelopathy is generally poor. In summary, in severe liver disease, motor deficits can occur secondary to the encephalopathy, but motor deficits can also occur as a result of spinal cord pathology such as seen in hepatic myelopathy. In examination of horses with myelopathies, liver disease as a cause of myelopathy should be included in our list of differentials.

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Hepatic encephalomyelopathy in a calf with congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS)

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

Ultrasonography of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in healthy calves from birth to 104 days of age

Ultrasonography of the spleen, liver, gallbladder, caudal vena cava and portal vein in healthy calves from birth to 104 days of age

Tenesmus in a calf with hepatic encephalopathy

Gait deficits in liver disease: Hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic myelopathy

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