Aplastic anemia in two kittens following a prescription error.
A medication error resulted in two kittens being treated with azathioprine (12 and 12.5 mg/kg) instead of azithromycin for 2 weeks. On clinical examination, the kittens were febrile, weak, and had oronasal hemorrhage. Complete blood cell counts indicated severe bone marrow suppression. Treatment consisted of multiple transfusions, antibiotics, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. One of the kittens responded to therapy and had a complete recovery. The other kitten was treated for 40 days with no clinical response before dying. Both kittens also contracted Mycoplasma hemofelis infection from a contaminated blood transfusion.
Paul
April L
AL
Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA.
Shaw
Scott P
SP
Bandt
Carsten
C
D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008508:Medication Errors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001379:Azathioprine