Obstructed portal venous flow and portal vein thrombus in a dog
Willard, M.D.; Bailey, M.Q.; Hauptman, J.; Mullaney, T.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 194(10): 1449-1451
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 2722640 Document Number: 330140
A young adult Doberman Pinscher had clinical signs and laboratory data consistent with the copper-associated hepatopathy commonly found in Doberman Pinschers. Hepatic biopsy and hepatic copper analysis did not support this diagnosis. Furthermore, changes seen in the hepatic biopsy specimen did not explain the acquired portosystemic shunting or the portal hypertension that the dog had. A mesentery venoportagram revealed markedly delayed filling of one portal vein, and necropsy revealed a small thrombus partially occluding that hepatic vein. It was not determined whether obstructed portal venous flow caused the portal vein thrombus or vice versa; however, it was theorized that the portal vein thrombus, once formed, contributed to further portal hypertension and/or delayed portal vein filling.