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Since 1984

Written by Dr.Jeff Vidt

Amyloidosis
      Amyloidosis is the deposition of an abnormal substance called amyloid in the tissues of the body.  These amyloid deposits are composed of protein fibrils formed by the polymerization of protein subunits forming a specific pattern called the beta-pleated sheet.  The specific biophysical arrangement of this sheet gives the amyloid deposits their unique staining and optical properties.  Due to this structure amyloid is insoluble and can be thought of as "wax".  It is also important to realize that amyloidosis is not a single disease, but can be the end point of many diseases.  The structure of amyloid also is responsible for the characteristic green color after staining with Congo red. 

      In Shar-Pei amyloidosis is a reactive amyloidosis.  This form of systemic amyloidosis usually occurs with chronic inflammatory diseases and is characterized by the presence of amyloid protein AA.  Amyloid protein AA is derived from an acute phase protein called serum amyloid A protein (SAA) produced by the liver.  There are many other acute phase proteins produced by the liver which have important roles in the inflammatory process and in tissue repair after injury.  It is important to understand that amyloid protein AA is a normal protein and that it's production is a normal response to tissue injury and inflammation.  It is also important to realize that many diseases, traumatic injuries, cancer disorders, stresses, etc. can stimulate the production of the acute phase proteins.  There appears to be a balance between the production of SAA and the degradation and excretion of SAA from the body.  It is not known whether the development of amyloidosis in the Shar-Pei is due to prolonged excessive SAA production by the liver which overwhelms the degradation mechanisms or a defect in the degradation process itself, or a combination of both.  We do know that Familial Shar-Pei Fever is an inflammatory process which does stimulate the synthesis and release of acute phase proteins from the liver.  That this occurs can be surmised from the changes seen on the hemogram and biochemical profiles of Shar-Pei during, or shortly after, an FSF episode.  It certainly appears that the cause of amyloidosis in Shar-Pei has a genetic basis.

      Reactive amyloidosis results in extracellular deposition of amyloid protein in tissues.  This means the "waxy" amyloid is surrounding the cells and slowly crushes them as well as interfering with nutrition of the cells.  These cells die and the structures they make up are replaced by fibrous, nonfunctional scar tissue.  There are species differences as to which tissues amyloid will accumulate in.  In dogs, the kidney is the primary organ involved with the spleen and liver affected less often.  The kidney is especially vulnerable due to its decreased ability to replace damaged cells and ultimately, when a certain number of cells have been irreparably damaged, kidney failure with its accompanying clinical signs develops.  Once amyloid is deposited in the tissues it appears that nothing can remove it.

      Why does amyloidosis have so many different clinical presentations?  Why does it occur in some Shar-Pei at 2 years of age and in others at 10 years of age?  Why do some Shar-Pei develop amyloidosis and others don't?  Why is it a genetic disease in Shar-Pei?  There are many questions which have no answers at this time.  I think several theories are plausible to explain the variations we see:

1.       The underlying basis of amyloidosis in Shar-Pei is Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF).  It is quite possible that FSF has variable age of onset and variable degrees of severity in terms of the inflammatory disease it causes.  This may result in a variable rate of progression in the development of amyloidosis in different individuals.  For example, the response of the liver to FSF and the synthesis and release of the acute phase proteins, especially SAA, may be more acute in some dogs resulting in a more rapid deposition of amyloid.  In other individuals, the response to FSF may be more chromic and result in slower deposition of amyloid.  In effect, there may be milder forms and more severe forms of the same disease.

2.       The exact mechanism of amyloid deposition may be different in different individuals.

3.       There may be other effects of FSF on the body which are additive with the amyloidosis.  As an example, we know Shar-Pei are more susceptible to disseminated intravascular coagulation (internal blood clotting) during an episode of FSF and blood clots in the kidneys may cause more kidney damage than just amyloid deposition itself.

4.       Some dogs may have other disease processes going on which can be additive with the effects of amyloidosis.

      These are just some ideas on why we see different presentations of the same disease.  One fact remains - any amyloid deposits found in a Shar-Pei have to be regarded as related to FSF and genetic until proven otherwise.  It really doesn't matter whether a little or a large amount of amyloid is found.  Another point to keep in mind is that the mechanisms initiating amyloid deposition are normal protective responses seen in any breed of dog.  It appears in our breed that the mechanisms, which regulate the inflammatory response, don't work properly allowing this normal response to go out of control and cause disease.

Plan of Action for Amyloidosis
      This article by Dr. Vidt presents a plan to monitor Shar-Pei with the goal of uncovering renal amyloidosis as early as possible and then instituting appropriate dietary and medical intervention. It does contain some technical terms which your veterinarian may be able to simplify for you. The author urges you to discuss this article with veterinarian and then both of you can work together in dealing with this troubling disease.

      Renal amyloidosis has hit the Shar-Pei fancy in recent years and left many of us feeling helpless as we watch young Shar-Pei sicken and die before our very eyes. We don't have to sit and take it, but can gather the facts and formulate a plan of action. What I propose in this paper is based on the information available today about renal amyloidosis. Currently, there is no test available to help pinpoint Shar-Pei at risk for developing the condition and due to ethical considerations, information concerning pedigree analysis is not available to help determine those dogs who have the condition in their background. What we are left with is to try to uncover the condition in our dogs as early as possible and to institute steps to minimize the effects on our dogs and increase longevity. The following plan has no guarantees and certainly will change as new information becomes available, but it represents a starting point and a step to build on further.

Keeping a Watchful Eye for the Health of your Shar-Pei

As a Shar-Pei owner you can do the following simple steps:

1.       Monitor weight - This involves weighing your dog at regular intervals using a scale. Do not rely on eyeball judgements. Too often I see dogs in an advanced state of weight loss which the owner has just noticed, but which has been going on for several weeks. Remember, we are trying to uncover this condition at its earliest point - minor weight loss can indicate early renal amyloidosis.

2.       Monitor appetite - Daily fluctuations in appetite do occur, but a change in what is normal for your dog may indicate early kidney problems.

3.       Monitor water consumption - A normal dog consumes approximately 1 oz. of water per pound of body weight per day. This varies with activity level, season of the year, type of food being fed (canned vs. dry), etc. I advise measuring water intake periodically by measuring how much water is put down in the morning and measuring it again at night. Obviously this will involve a little more ingenuity on the owner's part when multiple dogs are involved. Increased water consumption may indicate early kidney failure

      In addition to the above home monitoring program, I also advise having your veterinarian check a urine sample every three months on any Shar-Pei over two years of age. The main parameters I watch in the urine are the urine specific gravity and the urine protein reading. Urine specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of the urine. If the kidneys were not functioning at all this reading would be 1.008 - 1.012 (a dilute urine). Normal concentration should be above 1.025 and usually is greater that 1.045 (a concentrated urine). Ideally the urine sample should be a morning sample collected after the dog's water bowl has been removed overnight (remember to close the toilet lid!). By depriving the dog of water overnight we force the kidneys to concentrate the urine, if they are able to do so. Inability to concentrate urine indicates that approximately 75% of the kidneys are non-functional - this is still compatible with life, but treatment needs to be started quickly to preserve the remaining kidney function.

      The other urine test I heavily rely on is the urine protein level. The stick test routinely run by veterinarians primarily measures urine albumin levels. An elevated urine albumin level means that protein is being lost in the urine and correlates with glomerular damage (the glomerulus is the filtration unit of the kidney and serves to filter out the waste products of the body). High levels of protein in the urine indicates significant kidney disease and additional testing need to be done to obtain a diagnosis.

      It appears that there are three separate syndromes associated with renal amyloidosis in the Shar-Pei:

A.      Glomerular - If the amyloid deposits occur primarily in the glomerulus, we see increased protein levels in the urine.

B.      Tubular - If the amyloid deposits occur in the tubular part of the kidney we see loss of concentrating ability which manifests as a dilute urine.

C.      Combination - This occurs when amyloid is deposited in both the glomeruli and the kidney tubules and we see increased protein levels in the urine and dilute urine.

      The clinical signs and the routine urine check constitute the first level of diagnostics. If the urine sample is abnormal and one or more clinical signs are present, then we immediately proceed to the second level of diagnostics. This level incorporates the following tests:

1.       A complete blood count - This includes a packed cell volume, a white blood cell count, red blood cell count, platelet count, and a white blood cell differential count.

2.       A health panel - This includes at least a BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin and, glucose. It often includes liver tests and thyroid hormone levels.

3.       An immune panel - This should consist of a direct Coomb's test, an anti-nuclear antibody test (ANA), a Rheumatoid arthritis factor test (RA), and an LE prep for systemic lupus.

4.       A urine protein/creatinine ratio - A value above 1.0 is considered abnormal and indicates excessive urine protein loss.

5.       Abdominal radiographs - Used to evaluate kidney size and shape.

      Based on the results of the first and second level diagnostics the following steps are taken to manage the patient:

1.       Diet - A low protein diet is initiated using Hill's Prescription Diet K/D® or its home-made counterpart. I'm also using the Iams Eukanuba Veterinary Kidney Diets - Early Stages® and Advanced Stages®.

2.       Vitamin-mineral supplementation.

3.       Ascriptin® - 1/4 tablet once a day.

4.       1 cooked egg per day - used in cases where albumin is being lost in the urine.

5.       Additional medical therapy may be instituted using either colchicine tablets or DMSO via injection or orally. The effectiveness of both these drugs in the prevention and treatment of renal amyloidosis in the dog has yet to be substantiated, but their use is justified given the grave prognosis of this condition in the Shar-Pei. Colchicine is a human anti-gout medication whose mode of action is largely unknown. It appears to prevent the formation of amyloid in the laboratory, but whether this occurs in the living animal is not known. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is another drug whose mode of action is unknown, but has demonstrated the property of dissolving amyloid in the laboratory. Again, whether this action occurs in the living animal is unknown.

The dosages are as follows:

A.      Colchicine - this dose can be obtained from Dr. Linda Tintle or myself (see the July/August 1992 issue of The Barker).

B.      DMSO - numerous dosages are in the veterinary literature. Your veterinarian should refer to an excellent article on renal amyloidosis by DiBartola in Current Veterinary Therapy XI.

[IMPORTANT! - DMSO imparts an odor to the breath and skin of the patient.]

Again, the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of amyloidosis has not been proven in clinical studies and hence, they should be regarded as experimental drugs for this use. They should be used only under the supervision of your veterinarian.

6.       Equally important is the avoidance of further kidney damage. -

A.      Avoid dehydration- provide plenty of fresh water daily.

B.      Avoid kidney-damaging drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, methoxyflurane anesthesia, various chemotherapeutic agents, sulfonamide antibiotics, etc.

C.      Avoid stress- boarding, traveling, showing, etc.

      Third level diagnostics may be done depending on your veterinarian or the availability of specialists in your area.

Test at the level may include:

1.       Coagulation panel - Increased levels of fibrinogen may indicate impending thromboembolism (throwing of blood clots) associated with DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation) especially if associated with increased cholesterol and decreased albumin levels (nephrotic syndrome). This panel should include a platelet count and a measurement of FDP's (Fibrin Degradation Products).

2.       Fractional clearances of various eletrolytes.

3.       24-hour urine protein excretion.

4.       Creatinine clearance testing to evaluate kidney function.

5.       Kidney ultrasound.

6.       Kidney biopsy.

The kidney biopsy is the definitive diagnosis of renal amyloidosis and the decision to biopsy should be made early in the course of the disease for a number of reasons:

1.       Early on, the animal is a much better surgical candidate and many complications of renal amyloidosis such as bleeding tendencies and uremia are not present.

2.       There is a real danger in the Shar-Pei to blame every kidney problem on renal amyloidosis and fail to pursue other causes of kidney disease such as kidney infection, heartworm disease, and immune-mediated diseases like systemic lupus and immune-mediated glomerulonephritis.

3.       The information from an early kidney biopsy can guide the medical and dietary management of the case and provide valuable prognostic information.

Almost as important as the early diagnosis of renal amyloidosis is the continued monitoring of the patient while on therapy. This allows us not only to monitor and watch for the progression of the disease, but also to evaluate the various therapeutic modalities and determine which are effective and which are not. Monitoring at one to two week intervals initially and then at monthly intervals thereafter is recommended. I usually repeat a kidney panel and cholesterol level, a CBC, and a urinalysis including a urine protein/creatinine ratio.

Continued monitoring is also important in order to pick up the early signs of sequelae to renal amyloidosis such as:

1.       Nephrotic syndrome - characterized by decreased serum albumin, increased serum cholesterol and increased protein loss in the urine. A serious complication of this syndrome is thromboembolism ("throwing blood clots"). Your veterinarian may do a blood fibrinogen level and coagulation panel to evaluate the blood clotting system. If the fibrinogen level is >300 mg/dl, aspirin therapy is strongly indicated. Another serious complication of this condition is the development of edema or fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest and in the limbs. In this case, the use of diuretics such as Lasix may be necessary.

2.       Uremia - or the accumulation of body waste products which are normally filtered by the kidneys into the urine. The build-up of these wastes causes clinical signs such as appetite loss, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and lethargy. More serious effects include anemia (decreased red blood cell production) and gastrointestinal ulceration. Treatment here may include intravenous fluid therapy, dietary therapy such as Hill's Science Diet U/Dâ, Iams Eukanuba Veterinary Kidney Diet - Advanced Stagesâ, phosphate binders such as Amphojelâ, ulcer medication such as Carafateâ and other therapy as deemed necessary by your veterinarian. Eventually, uremia will progress and lead to the death of the animal. As an aside, current nutritional research indicates that there is no advantage to instituting dietary protein restriction prior to the onset of kidney failure. This means that feeding protein-restricted diets prior to developing laboratory or clinical signs of kidney failure will not prevent kidney failure.

3.       Hypertension - The kidneys are very important in the regulation of blood pressure. It is speculated that up to 80% of the dogs in kidney failure have significant hypertension as a consequence. The use of indirect blood pressure monitoring in animals has recently become available to the veterinarian and hopefully will lead to more advances in this area. Your veterinarian may wish to institute therapy using vasodilators and/ or diuretic medication.

4.       Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)- The body's coagulation system is in a fine state of balance between forming blood clots and dissolving them. When this balance is disrupted coagulation factors are used up before they can be replaced and out of control bleeding is the result. This condition is associated with high mortality and is a poor prognostic factor. Treatment is not very effective.

Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) -This is an unusual complication which results in areas of skin death leading to skin sloughing almost like a burn. The condition seems to be caused by toxins produced by Streptococcus canis and is rapidly fatal sometimes in spite of treatment.

      It should be mentioned here that DIC and STSS are also complications following episodes of Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF). FSF appears to be a potential trigger for the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) which can stimulate the development of DIC and STSS. Ultimately, these end up in the development of Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS) if early and aggressive treatment is not initiated. The bottom line is that no episode of FSF should be treated lightly. I recommend that my clients call me with each FSF attack and certainly bring the dog in if the episode is not responding to aspirin, is lasting longer than usual, they notice any usual symptoms or the fever is very elevated.

      To what extent early diagnosis and monitoring contributes to the longevity and quality of life of renal amyloidosis patients is hard to quantify at this time. My feeling is that it is possible to slow the progression of the condition and improve the short-term prognosis for these patients. We can probably add several months to their life span. It's expensive and requires diligence and hard work on the part of both the owner and their veterinarian, but the reward is some extra time with a close friend.

      Lastly, when the end does come, consider allowing your veterinarian to do an autopsy on your dog. Especially important is the evaluation of the kidneys through histopathology. We must verify cases of renal amyloidosis or other causes of kidney failure if we are to make headway in correcting this condition through breeding. Results can be sent to Dr. Linda Tintle, Wurstboro Veterinary Clinic, PC, 251 Sullivan Street, P.O. Box 906, Wurtsboro, New York, 12790.

      This site represents my own opinions based on reading the veterinary literature and in no way reflects the opinions of the CSPCA, Inc. or anyone else. Dr.Jeff Vidt