Pyometra in the dog--a pathophysiological investigation. V. The presence of intrahepatic cholestasis and an "acute phase reaction.".

An investigation on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the hypoalbuminaemia and the hypercholesterolaemia of the pyometra syndrome in dogs was performed on 15 patients. The control material consisted of blood from 15 and urine from 6 healthy dogs. The presence of intrahepatic cholestasis in most of the dogs was indicated by an increase of serum alkaline phosphatases and phosphodiesterase I, and by the morphological demonstration of bile pigment retention in liver biopsy material. Serum cholesterol (total- and free-) was positively correlated with serum phospholipids, alkaline phosphatases and phosphodiesterase I, as regularly seen in cholestatic syndromes. Fibrinogen and alpha 2-globulins were increased in most patients. Albumin was inversely related to these parameters, and the main cause of the hypoalbuminaemia was probably the presence of an "acute phase reaction". The levels of coagulation factors in plasma were not lowered. Enzyme markers of hepatocellular injury (ALAT, OCT) were not increased, but on the contrary significantly lowered. The possible presence of enzyme inhibitors as the cause of the decrease of ALAT and OCT is discussed.