Prothrombotic and inflammatory effects of intravenous administration of human immunoglobulin G in dogs.
BACKGROUND
Intravenous administration of human immunoglobulin G (hIVIgG) has been suggested to potentiate thromboembolism in dogs, but supportive scientific reports are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if hIVIgG therapy promotes hypercoagulability and inflammation in dogs.


METHODS
Twelve healthy Beagle dogs.


METHODS
Prospective, experimental trial. An hIVIgG/saline solution was infused IV at 1 g/kg BW over 8 hours to 6 dogs, and physiological saline was infused to the other 6 dogs. Blood samples were drawn before, during, and after infusion for serial measurement of indicators of coagulation and inflammation. Data were analyzed by 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Dogs administered hIVIgG developed mildly decreased blood platelet concentrations without thrombocytopenia (median, 200 x 10(3)/microL; range, 150-302 x 10(3)/microL; P < .01), leukopenia (median, 3.5 x 10(3)/microL; range, 20-62 x 10(3)/microL; P < .001), and mildly increased plasma total protein concentrations (median, 6.3 g/dL; range, 5.6-6.7 g/dL; P < .001). Administration of hIVIgG was also associated with increases in fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in all dogs (either 5 microg/mL or 10 microg/dL), thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (median, 7.2 ng/mL; range, 4.9-14.2 ng/mL; P < .001), and C-reactive protein concentrations (median, 2.5 mg/dL; range, 0.5-4.3 mg/dL; P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of hIVIgG to dogs promotes hypercoagulability and an inflammatory state. This should be further evaluated and considered when using hIVIgG in dogs with IMHA or other prothrombotic conditions.
Tsuchiya
R
R
Laboratory of Internal Medicine II, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan. tsutiyar@azabu-u.ac.jp
Akutsu
Y
Y
Ikegami
A
A
Scott
M A
MA
Neo
S
S
Ishikawa
T
T
Hisasue
M
M
Yamada
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G