Title: Hepatic microvascular dysplasia

{{Short description|Liver disorder}}
'''Hepatic microvascular dysplasia''' ('''HMD''' or '''MVD''') or '''portal atresia''' is a disorder where mixing of [[venous blood]] and [[artery|arterial blood]] in the [[liver]] occurs at the [[microscopic]] level. It occurs most commonly in certain dog breeds such as the [[Cairn Terrier|Cairn]] and [[Yorkshire terrier]]s although any dog breed may be at risk.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dliver.html#Hepatic%20microvascular%20dysplasia|accessdate=2007-10-17|title =Liver Disease in Dogs}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.vetcentric.com/magazine/magazineArticle.cfm?ARTICLEID=951 |accessdate=2007-10-17 |title=When the Liver Isn't Getting Enough Blood |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020501203403/http://www.vetcentric.com/magazine/magazineArticle.cfm?ARTICLEID=951 |archivedate=2002-05-01 }}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/HMD/ |accessdate=2007-10-17 |title=HEPATIC MICROVASCULAR DYSPLASIA OR PORTAL ATRESIA |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024152834/http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/HMD/ |archivedate=2007-10-24 }}&lt;/ref&gt;

This disease may also be found in cats.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

HMD is sometimes misdiagnosed as Portosystemic [[vascular anomaly]] (PSVA) or a &quot;Liver Shunt&quot; ([[portosystemic shunt]]). HMD can be diagnosed with an MRI, using a tracing dye in the subject's blood, and observing the flow of blood through the subject's liver and surrounding areas (stomach, intestine) for anomalies. It can also be diagnosed using a bile-acid level test; or more accurately, a &quot;fasting-blood ammonia levels&quot; test. Symptoms include [[stunted growth]] in the first 6–9 months, vomiting, seizures, and hydro-encephalitic episodes (from ammonia concentrating in the blood).{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} HMD is usually treated non-surgically with antibiotics ([[metronidazole]]) and stool-softeners ([[lactulose]]).{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

==References==
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[[Category:Dog diseases]]
[[Category:Cat diseases]]

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