Investigação das interações de doenças endócrinas e o sistema biliar de cães

Abstract

Ultrasonographic alterations of the gallbladder, such as biliary sludge, mucocele, cholecystitis, and cholelithiasis, are frequently identified in dogs, particularly in the presence of endocrinopathies. This dissertation consists of two integrated chapters aimed at expanding knowledge on the subject and contributing to the application of findings in clinical practice. The first chapter presents a systematic review of the treatment of gallbladder mucocele, highlighting therapeutic approaches and their limitations. The decision to perform cholecystectomy still lacks specific guidelines, making the choice of the procedure often subjective. Preventive surgery is widely used but may expose dogs to unnecessary risks. Medicinal treatment can be a viable alternative when closely monitored, although the lack of comparative studies limits its recommendation. The second chapter analyzes the relationship between ultrasonographic alterations of the gallbladder and endocrinopathies in dogs treated at the HV-UFU. The findings indicate that while biliary sludge was common, it showed no correlation with dyslipidemias, whereas mucocele was associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Furthermore, elevated ALT levels and lymphopenia were observed in dogs with biliary sludge, but no vesicular alterations proved to be a reliable marker for endocrinopathies. These results suggest that the diagnosis and monitoring of these diseases should not rely solely on ultrasonographic gallbladder findings.