title: Identification of hypercoagulability in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia by means of thromboelastography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whole blood hemostasis by means of thromboelastography in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) to determine whether these dogs had evidence of hypercoagulability prior to the administration of immunosuppressant medications, blood transfusion products, or anticoagulant agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation study.
  
  
  METHODS
  11 client-owned dogs admitted to a teaching hospital for management of primary IMHA and 20 clinically normal dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Citrated whole blood samples were obtained from all dogs for performance of kaolin-activated thromboelastography. Citrated plasma was harvested from blood samples of dogs with IMHA for plasma-based coagulation testing, including activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, D-dimer concentration, fibrinogen concentration, and antithrombin activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with control dogs, dogs with primary IMHA had evidence of hypercoagulability as indicated by a significantly lower median (range) clot formation time (0.8 seconds [0.8 to 2.0 seconds] vs 1.9 seconds [1.3 to 3.8 seconds]), higher median angle (76.1° [59.2° to 84.6°] vs 64.0° [45.4° to 71.0°]), higher median maximum amplitude (75.9 mm [66.3 to 86.3 mm] vs 55.7 mm [49.9 to 63.6 mm]), and higher median clot strength (15,000 dyne/cm(2) [9,900 to 31,400 dyne/cm(2)] vs 6,100 dyne/cm(2) [4,900 to 8,700 dyne/cm(2)]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs with primary IMHA had hypercoagulability as demonstrated by thromboelastography at the time of initial diagnosis and prior to treatment. Such hypercoagulability may be a precursor to clinically evident thrombosis as a complication of the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. r.fenty@vetspecialistsvalley.com
authors.forename: Renee K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Fenty
authors.forename: Armelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Delaforcade
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Therese E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: O'Toole
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000662:veterinary*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*