Liver Amyloidosis in a Shar pei Dog

History: 3-year-old Shar Pei dog, neutered male neutered with a history of icterus, hock swelling, and pyrexia. Bloodwork revealed moderate neutrophilic leukocytosis with left shift and toxic neutrophils. Chemistries showed moderately increased liver enzymes and mild hyperproteinemia.

Cytological description:The images consist of multiple large clusters of intact hepatocytes. These show mild to moderate intracellular accumulation of bile pigments with occasional extracellular bile casts. There is severe extracellular infiltration by eosinophilic fibrillar material suggestive of amyloid material. There is no evidence of inflammation, sepsis, or neoplasia.

Comments: Familial amyloidosis resulting in chronic liver failure at young age is reported in Shar Pei dogs. Severe proteinuria secondary to renal amyloidosis is a frequent finding. Shar Pei dogs may have a history of episodic joint swelling and high fever that resolved within a few days, regardless of treatment. This condition is associated with a poor prognosis.