Correlation between Endoscopic and Histopathological Findings in Dogs with Chronic Gastritis

Presence of nucleosomes in plasma and increased thrombin generation in dogs with acute and chronic gastroenteropathies

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) which contain nucleosomes protect the host by eliminating extracellular pathogens. However, any inflammatory stimuli can activate NETs and eventually lead to an immune overreaction leading to autoimmune diseases and thrombosis. Acute/chronic gastroenteropathies(aGE/cGE) are prevalent in dogs, and are associated with a strong inflammatory component. The aim of this study was to investigate if dogs with aGE and cGE have increased concentrations of nucleosomes indicative of NETs formation, and whether increased concentrations of nucleosomes are associated with hypercoagulability determined by increased thrombin generation. Twenty-six dogs were enrolled. The dogs were healthy (n = 11), or presented with aGE(n = 7) or cGE(n = 8). Minimum database including CRP, APTT, PT and fibrinogen, was obtained from all dogs. Citrated plasma was batched and used for subsequent analyses. Nucleosome concentration was analysed using a Cell-Death Detection ELISA-kit and thrombin generation by a calibrated automated thrombogram assay. No statistical differences in nucleosome concentrations were present between the groups. Although a numerically increased concentration of nucleosomes where seen in dogs with aGE(median;range) (0.019 AU;0.003-0.088) and cGE(0.023 AU;0.011-0.256) compared to controls(0.007 AU;0.003-0.042). One dog with GI-lymphoma demonstrated a markedly increased concentration of nucleosomes (0.256 AU). Dogs with aGE showed increased thrombin generation by increased peak (p = 0.03) and endogenous thrombin potential (p = 0.03); and increased CRP (p = 0.001), fibrinogen (p = 0.0002) and prolonged APTT (p = 0.03) compared to controls. This proof of concept study demonstrates that dogs with aGE and cGE have presence of nucleosomes with marked increase in one dog with GI-lymphoma. Nucleosomes might be linked to haemostatic alterations in dogs with inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

Comparison of clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features between dogs with chronic gastritis with and without lymphofollicular hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To compare clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic features between dogs with chronic gastritis (CG) with and without lymphofollicular hyperplasia (LFH).

ANIMALS

64 and 56 dogs with CG with (cases) and without (controls) LFH, respectively.

PROCEDURES

The medical record database of a referral clinic was searched to identify dogs that underwent endoscopic examination of the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract and were subsequently determined to have CG with or without LFH between October 2006 and February 2011. Signalment and clinical, endoscopic, and histologic findings were compared between cases and controls. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with CG with LFH.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, cases were significantly younger and more likely to be of a brachycephalic phenotype. The proportions of dogs with a poor body condition or diarrhea were significantly lower and the proportions of dogs with inspiratory dyspnea, exercise intolerance, or hyperemia and discoloration of the gastric mucosa were significantly higher for the case group, compared with the control group. Inspiratory dyspnea, gastric mucosal hyperemia, and gastritis severity were positively associated, whereas poor body condition was negatively associated, with CG with LFH on multivariable logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The strong positive association between inspiratory dyspnea and CG with LFH suggested that the condition may be a consequence of an increase in negative intrathoracic pressure rather than a distinct clinical entity. Prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanism by which inspiratory dyspnea contributes to the development of CG with LFH.

A modified Sydney system for the diagnosis of chronic gastritis in dogs

Background

The Sydney system for assessing inflammatory lesions in the gastric mucosa is based on endoscopic and histological examinations. This study aimed to apply the Sydney system to diagnose gastritis in dogs. The study also compared the results of endoscopic and histological examinations conducted on gastric mucosal biopsy specimens. A total of 56 dogs with chronic vomiting were analyzed in the study. The physical appearance of the gastric mucosa was assessed through endoscopic examination, while the severity of the gastric inflammation, inflammation activity, glandular atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia were assessed by histopathological examination.

Results

The endoscopic examination confirmed the presence of inflammatory lesions affecting the gastric corpus and pylorus in all the dogs, although the severity of these lesions differed between the individuals. Reflux gastritis was the most commonly observed gastric inflammation. In the histopathological examination of the gastric mucosal samples, inflammatory lesions were found in the gastric corpus of 53 dogs, while 55 dogs had lesions in the pylorus. This corresponds to a 96.4% agreement between the methods.

Conclusions

The Sydney system is a useful tool for macroscopic and microscopic assessment of changes in the gastric mucosa as it enables the determination of inflammation type and severity, which helps the canine gastroenterologists to reliably compare the results of the tests performed in different facilities. Besides, the use of the Sydney system in diagnosing lesions facilitates the selection and effective monitoring of treatment. However, despite a high rate of agreement between the results of endoscopic and histopathological examinations, it is recommended to use both these methods for the assessment of the gastric mucosa in dogs.

Blue laser magnifying endoscopy in the diagnosis of chronic gastritis

The current study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of using blue laser imaging combined with magnifying endoscopy in the diagnosis of chronic gastritis (CG). The groups used were as follows: The white light group (WLI, control group), linked color imaging group (LCI, observation group 1), blue laser imaging (BLI)-bright (brt) group (BLI-brt; observation group 2), BLI + magnified imaging (ME) group (observation group 3). WLI mode initially allowed the observation of mucosal suspicious lesions on the gastric mucosa. These lesions were photographed and the mode was changed to LCI, BLI-brt and BLI + ME. Different observational patterns were compared between modes to diagnose various grades of chronic gastritis. No significant differences were observed in the baseline information of enrolled patients. The LCI mode diagnosis rate was higher for Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection than in any other mode. LCI exhibited a high diagnostic rate for HP, BLI-brt exhibited a high diagnostic rate for atrophy and BLI/BLI + ME exhibited a high diagnostic rate for intestinal metaplasia and intraepithelial neoplasia. All modes exhibited higher diagnostic rates compared with the WLI mode. The pathological HP diagnosis rate (consistency) of HP infection was the greatest in the LCI group (endoscopic findings and pathological consistency). The BLI-BRT mode exhibited the highest pathological diagnosis rate for atrophic gastritis and the BLI/BLI + ME mode exhibited the highest diagnostic rate for intestinal metaplasia and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia.