Hepatic Amyloid

OVERVIEW
Amyloidoses—disorders that share the common feature of pathologic deposition of an extracellular insoluble fibrillar proteinaceous matrix
Amyloid—accumulates secondary to inflammatory or lymphoproliferative disorders or as a familial tendency
Dogs and cats—usually reactive or secondary amyloidosis; underlying primary inflammatory disorder common
Associated familial disorders—certain kindreds of dogs and cats
Multiple organs commonly involved; clinical signs usually owing to renal or liver involvement
Liver involvement—may be insidious; may lead to high liver enzymes, severe hepatomegaly, coagulopathy, liver rupture leading to hemoabdomen, and/or liver failure