title: Thrombocytopenia in cats: a retrospective study of 41 cases.
abstract: The prevalence of feline thrombocytopenia (< 200,000 platelets/microL) at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, from January 1985 to March 1990, was 1.2% (41/3300). Cats were divided into six categories based on clinical diagnoses: 29% (12/41) had infectious disease, 20% (8/41) had neoplasia, 7% (3/41) had cardiac disease, 2% (1/41) had primary immune-mediated disease, 22% (9/41) had multiple diseases, and 20% (8/41) had disorders of unknown etiology. The mean platelet count for all thrombocytopenic cats was 52,000/microL +/- 46,000/microL (1 SD) with a range of 1000-190,000/microL. No significant differences were found between groups with respect to platelet count, packed cell volume, or white blood cell count, though anemia and leukopenia were common among the cats as a whole. Bleeding disorders (hemorrhage or thrombosis) were observed in 29% (12/41) of thrombocytopenic cats and were more likely to be associated with neoplasia, cardiac disease, and platelet counts less than or equal to 30,000/microL. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was diagnosed in 12% (5/41) of the cats. Infections and/or neoplasia affecting the bone marrow were the most common diseases associated with thrombocytopenia. Feline leukemia virus and myeloproliferative neoplasia accounted for approximately 44% (18/41) of the specific diagnoses in thrombocytopenic cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh 27606.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Grindem
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*