Comparison of serum biochemical and hepatic functional alterations in dogs treated with corticosteroids and hepatic duct ligation.

Robert C. DeNovo Jr., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
K. W. Prasse

Abstract

Increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) caused by nonhyperbilirubinaemic cholestasis (induced by hepatic duct ligation) and dexamethasone treatment (11 * 3 mg/day i/v) were investigated in groups of 5 dogs. Five sham-operated dogs served as controls. Serum ALP, gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and arginase (ARG) were measured daily for 12 days. Sulfobromophthalein (BSP) excretion, ammonia tolerance, serum bile acid and serum ALP isoenzymes were measured on days 1, 6 and 12. Serum ALT, ALP, and GGT increased after both treatments. Neither treatment affected LAP, ARG or ammonia tolerance. BSP excretion was increased in dexamethasone treatment on days 6 and 12. Serum bile acid was increased by both treatments but was significantly different from controls in the cholestasis group on days 6 and 12. Serum electrophoresis showed an indistinct steroid-induced ALP isoenzyme band in one of 5 dexamethasone-treated dogs on day 12. It is concluded that none of the parameters tested was reliable for differentiating between the treatments.