A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of human intravenous immunoglobulin for the acute management of presumptive primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs.
BACKGROUND
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) is a common hematologic disorder in dogs. Human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) may have a beneficial effect in canine IMT.


OBJECTIVE
A single hIVIG infusion (0.5 g/kg) in dogs with presumed primary IMT (pIMT) is a safe adjunctive emergency treatment to accelerate platelet count recovery and shorten hospitalization time without increasing the cost of patient care.


METHODS
Eighteen client-owned dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of pIMT.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.


RESULTS
There were no identifiable immediate or delayed adverse reactions associated with hIVIG administration over a 6-month period. The median platelet count recovery time for the hIVIG group was 3.5 days (mean + or - SD: 3.7 + or - 1.3 days; range, 2-7 days) and 7.5 days (mean + or - SD: 7.8 + or - 3.9 days; range, 3-12 days) for the placebo group. The median duration of hospitalization for hIVIG group was 4 days (mean + or - SD: 4.2 + or - 0.4 days; range, 2-8 days) and 8 days (mean + or - SD: 8.3 + or - 0.6 days; range, 4-12 days) for the placebo group. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to expense of initial patient care, whereas significant reduction in platelet count recovery time (P= .018) and duration of hospitalization (P= .027) were detected in the hIVIG group.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with corticosteroids alone, adjunctive emergency therapy of a single hIVIG infusion was safe and associated with a significant reduction in platelet count recovery time and duration of hospitalization without increasing the expense of medical care in a small group of dogs with presumed pIMT.
Bianco
D
D
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1352 Boyd Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA. bianc037@umn.edu
Armstrong
P J
PJ
Washabau
R J
RJ
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous