Response of healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and immunologic response in healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin (HSA).


METHODS
9 healthy purpose-bred mixed-breed dogs.


METHODS
Each dog was administered a 25% HSA solution once or twice. Various physical examination and laboratory variables were serially evaluated. Antibody against HSA was assayed before and after infusion by use of an ELISA. Intradermal testing was also conducted. A repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman repeated-measures ANOVA on ranks was used to compare results for the variables.


RESULTS
Adverse clinical reactions were observed after the first or second infusion in 3 dogs. Anaphylactoid reactions were observed in 1 of 9 dogs during the first infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. Two dogs developed severe edema and urticaria 6 or 7 days after an initial infusion. All dogs developed anti-HSA antibodies. Positive responses for ID tests were observed in 8 of 9 dogs. Short-term increases were detected in blood protein, total bilirubin, and calcium concentrations after HSA infusion. Serum cholesterol concentrations and platelet counts decreased after HSA infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of HSA resulted in profound reactions in 2 of 9 dogs administered a single infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. This indicates that there is risk of life-threatening adverse reactions to HSA infusion in healthy dogs.
Cohn
Leah A
LA
Departments of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Kerl
Marie E
ME
Lenox
Catherine E
CE
Livingston
Robert S
RS
Dodam
John R
JR
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*
D012709:Serum Albumin