title: Use of fresh platelet concentrate or lyophilized platelets in thrombocytopenic dogs with clinical signs of hemorrhage: a preliminary trial in 37 dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the safety and feasibility of using lyophilized platelets (LYO) and fresh platelet concentrate (FRESH) in bleeding thrombocytopenic dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preliminary prospective randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two private referral centers and 3 university teaching hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven dogs with a complaint of hemorrhage associated with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <70 × 10(9) /L [70,000/μL], a hematocrit >15%, and that had received neither vincristine nor platelet-containing transfusions within 72 h of enrollment were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were randomized to receive LYO or FRESH, dosed according to weight. Physical examination, complete blood counts, and coagulation testing (prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time) were performed at enrollment. Physical examinations were also performed immediately post transfusion, and at 1 and 24 h after transfusion. Complete blood counts were repeated immediately post transfusion and at 24 h. Collected data included bleeding score (BLS), response to transfusion, adverse reactions, hospitalization time, need for additional transfusions, survival to discharge, and 28-d survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two dogs received LYO and 15 received FRESH. There was no difference between groups in age, weight, BLS, platelet count, white blood cell count, hematocrit, or presence of melena. There was no difference between groups in transfusion reaction rates, the need for additional transfusions, 24-h BLS, hospitalization time, survival to discharge, or 28-d survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transfusion of LYO was feasible and associated with a low transfusion reaction rate in this limited study of thrombocytopenic canine patients presenting with mild-to-severe hemorrhage. LYO were easy to use and provided storage advantages over FRESH. Further study of this product, including examination of efficacy and platelet life span, is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services, Seattle, WA 98125, USA. bdavidow@criticalcarevets.com
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Davidow
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brainard
authors.forename: Linda G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagella
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jutkowitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*