Neutrophilia is associated with a poorer clinical outcome in dogs with chronic hepatitis.

Background Liver disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. Currently, it is challenging to prognosticate in these cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the haematological variables in dogs with chronic hepatitis. Methods Dogs with chronic hepatitis confirmed on histopathology had presenting haematological values retrospectively obtained and evaluated against survival time. Eighty-two dogs met the inclusion criteria and their data analysed. Results Neutrophilic patients, with a count greater than 12x109/l, controlled for sex and age, had a shorter survival time (P=0.01). In dogs, neutrophilia at presentation predicted a poor outcome, whereas the other haematological parameters were not prognostically informative. When the dogs were split into even quarters on the basis of their neutrophil count, those within the higher quartiles had poorer survival times. Neutrophilia was associated with a poorer survival time in comparison to those patients with a lower count. Conclusion The relationship between neutrophils, inflammation and clinical outcome is deserving of future study in dogs with chronic hepatitis.