Evaluation of point-of-care tests for diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in dogs admitted to an intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of point-of-care tests for the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in dogs and assess the correlation and agreement of results between point-of-care and laboratory tests in the evaluation of hemostatic function.


METHODS
Prospective case series.


METHODS
59 critically ill dogs (affected dogs) with clinical signs of diseases known to predispose to DIC and 52 clinically normal dogs.


METHODS
Accuracy of the point-of-care tests (activated clotting time [ACT], estimated platelet count and number of schizocytes from a blood smear, plasma total solids [TS] concentration, and the protamine sulfate test) was evaluated, using receiver operating characteristic curves and likelihood ratios. A strategy, using likelihood ratios to calculate a posttest probability of DIC, was tested with 65% used as a threshold for initiation of treatment. Results of laboratory tests (coagulogram and plasma antithrombin III activity) were used as the standard for comparison in each dog.


RESULTS
ACT and estimated platelet count provided the best accuracy for detection of DIC. The plasma TS concentration, schizocyte number, and protamine sulfate test had poor accuracy. The strategy using post-test probability of DIC identified 12 of 16 affected dogs that had DIC. Estimated platelet count was correlated and had acceptable clinical agreement with automated platelet count (r = 0.70). The plasma TS (r = 0.28) concentration and serum albumin (r = 0.63) concentration were not accurate predictors of plasma antithrombin III activity. The ACT did not correlate with activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.28).


CONCLUSIONS
Strategic use of likelihood ratios from point-of-care tests can assist clinicians in making treatment decisions for dogs suspected to have DIC when immediate laboratory support is unavailable.
Bateman
S W
SW
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Mathews
K A
KA
Abrams-Ogg
A C
AC
Lumsden
J H
JH
Johnstone
I B
IB
Hillers
T K
TK
D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D006494:Heparin Antagonists; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011479:Protamines; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time / Q000662:veterinary
D006494:Heparin Antagonists; D011479:Protamines