Osteopenia with decreased bone formation in beagles with malabsorption syndrome.

Morphometric and bone density studies were performed on bones from 10 healthy adult dogs and 9 dogs that had exhibited signs of intestinal malabsorption for variable periods of time. The dogs with malabsorption syndrome had a marked decrease in the amount of trabecular bone in lumbar vertebrae (P less than 0.001). Evaluation of undecalcified rib cross sections revealed these dogs had a decrease in trabecular thickness (P less than 0.01) and cortical area (P less than 0.01). There was a decrease in the proportion of the trabecular surface covered with osteoblasts (P less than 0.01) and an increase in resting resorption surface (P less than 0.01) and trabecular specific surface (P less than 0.01). Three of the dogs with malabsorption syndrome and all control dogs were labeled with oxytetracycline prior to sacrifice. The dogs with malabsorption syndrome had a decreased number or complete absence of labeled bone formation sites when compared to controls. No difference was found in bone mineral density in the malabsorption cases as a group, although 1 of the dogs that had an increase in percent osteoid volume and percent osteoid-covered surface had lower ash/ml in trabecular bone samples from lumbar vertebrae. Parathyroid gland weights were available for 6 of the 9 dogs, and these were not significantly different from controls. The findings indicate that decreased bone formation, probably due to the poor nutritional status associated with malabsorption, was an important factor in the development of osteopenia.

Relationship of hypothyroidism to diabetes mellitus, renal amyloidosis, and thrombosis in purebred beagles.

Review of 484 records for colony Beagles revealed an association between hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. The average time between first notation of hypothyroidism and later development of diabetes mellitus was 2.8 years. An association was also made with hypothyroidism, renal amyloidosis, and thrombosis. Hypothyroidism was significantly related to thrombosis, thrombosis was significantly related to renal amyloidosis, but hypothyroidism and renal amyloidosis were not significantly related. Of 62 hypothyroid dogs, 11 were diabetic and 7 others had thrombosis. Six hypothyroid dogs had renal amyloidosis, 4 of which had thrombosis. One dog had renal amyloidosis and thrombosis in the absence of hypothyroidism. There does not appear to be an association with any of the lesions and previous low-dose, whole-body gamma, or sham irradiation.

Clinical features and natural history of Crohn's disease.

Records of 1084 patients entered into the National Cooperative Crohn's Disease Study were analyzed to gather information concerning the natural history and clinical features of Crohn's disease. The age of onset reached a single peak between the second and fourth decade and was evenly distributed in both sexes. There was an average interval of 35 mo from onset of symptoms to diagnosis. Involvement of both colon and terminal ileum was the most frequent pattern and was present in 55% of patients. The disease was confined to the terminal ileum, other areas of the small intestine, or colon-only in 14%, 3%, and 15% of patients, respectively. Sigmoidoscopic abnormalities were seen in 34% of all patients and 51% of patients with Crohn's colitis. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fever were present in the majority of the patients. Lower GI bleeding, fever, and perianal complications characterized patients with colon-only involvement. The frequency of extra intestinal manifestations was similar in all groups. Among patients who were randomized to placebo, 32% achieved a spontaneous remission by the end of 17 wk, and 53% of these were still in remission at the end of 24 mo. Clinical remission was associated with an improvement in barium x-rays in 18% of the patients. The predicted factors associated with favorable outcome in placebo-treated patients were: previous surgical removal of all observable disease, absence of perianal disease, and Crohn's Disease Activity Index value under 200.