A retrospective study of probable glucocorticoid-induced hepatopathy in dogs.

Hepatopathy associated with glucocorticoid therapy or with naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism was detected retrospectively in hepatic biopsy specimens from 22 of 60 dogs, by histologic review. The hepatopathy was characterized by centrilobular vacuolization, perivacuolar glycogen accumulation within hepatocytes, and focal centrilobular necrosis. The predominant clinical findings were hepatomegaly, increased serum enzyme activity associated with hepatic disease, and increased bromsulphalein retention. The hepatopathy appeared to be reversible.