Canine plasmacytic-lymphocytic colitis. A clinicopathologic study of 15 cases

Abstract

Clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic findings of 15 cases of canine chronic Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis are presented. The clinical findings were hematochesia, mucus in the stool, tenesmus, diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. Endoscopically, the presence of erythema, erosions, ulcers, mucus, mucosal friability and granularity, as well as loss of submucosal vascular pattern noticed in the colon of 15 dogs. The histopathology of colon revealed various degrees of plasma cell and lymphocyte mucosal infiltration. The treatment protocol included sulfasalazine and prednisolone administration in combination with dietary modification. The points of this clinical work are: 1) it is worth to take specimen, for histopathologic examination, from colon, 2) the colonoscopic and histopathologic findings help the diagnosis and treatment of Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis, 3) there is no firm correlation between the severity of clinical and endoscopic findings and the degree of mucosal infiltration, 4) the suggested dose and duration of sulfasalazine administration for the treatment of canine Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic colitis is higher and longer, and 5) there is not any correlation between the number of lymphocytes in blood and the severity of lymphocyte infiltration in colon lamina propria.