Cynthia RL Webster, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): No financial relationships to disclose
Presentation Description / Summary: The hepatoprotective agents including S-adenosylmethionine, urosdiol and vitamin E are frequently used in a plethora of hepatobiliary disorders in dogs and cats. This session through the presentation of case discussions will bring clarity to the selection of the most appropriate agent for your patient. While working through the cases, pertinent information about mechanisms of action (including updated information on some novel protective pathways), review of pharmacology and formulations and a summation and review of the clinical information from the veterinary and human literature will emerge. The presentation will be case based with consideration of dogs and cats with common hepatobiliary diseases including inflammatory, toxic, vascular, vacuolar and biliary disease.
Learner Outcomes: 1.The attendee will be able to choose the most appropriate hepatoprotective strategy when presented with a dog or cat with inflammatory/fibrotic, vacuolar, vascular, biliary, or toxic disease . 2. The attendee will leave with an understanding of the mechanisms of action of hepatoprotective agents and when and if their actions may be additive. 3. The attendee will leave with an appreciation of the important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the hepatoprotective agents.
Learning Objectives:
• The attendee will be able to discuss the mechanisms of action of common hepatoprotective agents such as S-adenosylmethionine, ursodiol, N-acetylcysteine, vitamin E and silybin/silymarin.
• The attendee will understand how to effectively use these hepatoprotective agents in different hepatobiliary disorders that commonly occur in dogs and cats
• The attendee will leave with an understanding of important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factprs that influence safe and effective use of the hepatoprotective agents.
