title: Treatment and predictors of outcome in dogs with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the clinical course of disease and identify prognostic indicators for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 dogs treated for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records from the period of January 2002 through June 2008 were reviewed to identify dogs with a diagnosis of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, results of initial diagnostic tests, treatment, complications, and survival duration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dog ages ranged from 5 months to 15 years (median, 8.1 years). Cocker Spaniels were overrepresented, compared with their distribution in the entire hospital population during the same period. Sixty-one of the 73 (84%) dogs survived to discharge. Seven (11 %) of those dogs were lost to follow-up. Five of the remaining 54 (9%) dogs had a relapse of the disease. The presence of melena or high BUN concentration at admission to the hospital was significantly correlated with a decreased probability of survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is a serious yet treatable disease, which may have a lower rate of recurrence than previously reported. The presence of melena or high BUN concentration in the study suggested a poor prognosis for affected dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors.forename: Shana K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: O'Marra
authors.forename: Armelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Delaforcade
authors.forename: Scott P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents