Comparison of blood parameters in degenerative liver disease and liver neoplasia in dogs

Abstract  The evaluation of blood parameters is the first step in the diagnosis of liver disease. In many cases the blood parameters indicate only cell destruction or disturbances of liver cell synthesis. It is impossible for one to make a diagnosis by blood parameters only. In our investigation we compared the liver parameters ALT, ALP, GLDH, albumin, bile acid and total bilirubin in dogs with severe degenerative liver disease and in dogs with malignant liver tumours. The aim of our investigation was to find differences between the blood parameters in both liver diseases. We found no significant difference in parameters between degenerative liver disease and liver neoplasia. However, in our investigation, compared with other reports, the mean levels of ALT, ALP, albumin and bilirubin were more often altered in liver neoplasia than in degenerative liver disease. Thus, we conclude that disturbances of liver cell integrity and function occur more often in liver tumours than in severe degenerative liver disease.