title: Presumed primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in four cats.
abstract: Feline primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (pIMT) is a rare hematological disorder. Platelet-bound antibody assays for cats have variable specificity and sensitivity and are not widely available. Diagnosis of pIMT is made on the basis of exclusion of other identifiable causes of thrombocytopenia and the response to immunosuppressive therapy. This report describes four cats with severe thrombocytopenia and no detectable underlying disease. One cat was euthanased because of pulmonary hemorrhage, while the other cats had frequent relapses, two of these cats developed diabetes mellitus due to long-term corticosteroid therapy. In these cats IMT had a chronic course and responded poorly to therapy with prednisolone. Alternative immunomodulatory drugs may be considered in the treatment of feline IMT.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA. bianc037@umn.edu
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: P Jane
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Washabau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone