Reactive systemic amyloidosis in a dog
Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31533/pubvet.v20n1e1888Keywords:
Amyloid, chronic inflammation, protein, protein deposits, systemic diseaseAbstract
Canine amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular deposition of abnormal fibrillar proteins (amyloid) resulting from protein misfolding, which may accumulate in organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen, and heart. The most common forms include AA amyloidosis, associated with chronic inflammation and derived from serum amyloid A (SAA), and AL amyloidosis, related to plasma cell neoplasms. Diagnosis is established through histopathological examination, and treatment is primarily supportive, with a generally guarded prognosis. This report describes the case of a 12-year-old Scottish Terrier presenting with chronic dermatopathy and abdominal distension, in which diagnostic imaging revealed a splenic mass. The patient underwent splenectomy, and histopathological evaluation confirmed splenic amyloidosis. Systemic involvement was subsequently suspected, and the dog was managed with palliative care for nine months, maintaining satisfactory clinical stability until the development of clinical signs consistent with renal failure. Post-mortem examination confirmed reactive systemic amyloidosis (AA), with amyloid deposition in the kidneys, liver, and lymph nodes, in addition to multifocal histiocytic lymphadenitis with intralesional hemosiderin, supporting chronic inflammation as the underlying triggering factor. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and supportive clinical management of amyloidogenic diseases, which remain infrequently diagnosed antemortem in small animal practice.
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