[Clinical and endocrinological findings of bitches with ovarian cyst syndrome].

Aim of this study was to record the clinical findings in bitches with ovarian cyst syndrome (OCS) and to interpret them in connection with the endocrine status in peripheral blood and in cyst liquid. For our investigation 16 bitches of different breeds with an average age of 9.7 years were used. They have been presented to the clinic due to different gynecological symptoms. The leading symptom was in 87.5 % of the cases a chronic vaginal secretion. In addition to a detailed anamnesis a clinical examination was performed including vaginalcytologic, sonographic, hematologic and hormonal findings (progesterone P4, 17β estradiol E2). As basic diagnoses could be made: Cycle aberrations (n = 8), pyometra endometritis complex (n = 4), vaginal tumor (n = 4). In addition 3 patients were presented with alopecia. All patients were ovariohysterectomized without prior conservative treatment and the ovaries histologically examined and classified. Based on sonographic findings before and macroscopic evaluation the ovaries after surgery, the OCS could be divided into an oligocystic and polycystic syndrome. There were predominating (94 %) follicle theca cysts. The formation of cysts on the ovary was in the vast majority (66.7 %) combined with corpora lutea. The endometrium showed mainly (50 %) a glandular cystic hyperplasia (CHE) and the hematologic examination revealed in 31.2 % of the patients a combination of advanced erythropenia and thrombocytopenia. Generally there was no direct relationship between increased P4 and E2 values in the pooled cyst fluid and in the peripheral blood when the oestrous phase was considered. Based on present data the diagnosis of OCS of the bitch by means of peripheral P4 and E2 values is not possible.