title: Haemophagocytic syndrome with disseminated intravascular coagulation in a dog.
abstract: Clinical signs and haematological abnormalities of haemophagocytic syndrome of unknown origin are described for a male, nine-year-old rottweiler referred because of weakness, depression, mild weight loss and relapsing fever. Mucous membranes were pale and the spleen was enlarged. Ultrasonography revealed diffuse irregular structures in the enlarged spleen, and cytological examination of multiple fine needle aspirates of the spleen demonstrated extramedullary haematopoiesis. Haematological examination revealed pancytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. A bone marrow smear contained numerous marrow macrophages with a cytologically benign appearance, containing phagocytosed haematopoietic cells. The dog died one week after referral. The differential diagnosis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stockhaus
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Slappendel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography