title: Evaluation of hemostatic and fibrinolytic markers in dogs with ascites attributable to right-sided congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether dogs with ascites secondary to right-sided congestive heart failure (CHF) have bleeding disorders associated with hypofibrinogenemia and discordant plasma fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) and D-dimer assay results (ie, a circulating concentration of FDPs higher than the reference range and a circulating concentration of D-dimer within the reference range).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 client-owned dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs with ascites secondary to right-sided CHF (group 1; n = 20), unhealthy dogs without cardiac disease (group 2; 40), and dogs with left-sided CHF (group 3; 20) were included in the study. Urine bile acids-to-creatinine concentration ratios were calculated as a marker of liver function. Differences among groups regarding coagulation profile analysis results and prevalence of discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were detected among the 3 groups regarding urine bile acids-to-creatinine concentration ratios. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was significantly lower for group 1 versus groups 2 or 3. Prevalence of discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results was significantly higher for group 1 versus groups 2 or 3. Eighteen group 1 dogs had discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results. Ten of these dogs had concurrent hypofibrinogenemia, 2 of which had clinical signs of bleeding. Only 10 dogs in groups 2 or 3 had discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results; none of these dogs had hypofibrinogenemia or clinical signs of bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs with right-sided CHF and ascites may be at increased risk for primary hyperfibrinogenolysis (ie, hypofibrinogenemia and discordant FDPs and D-dimer assay results).
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Study, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. zoia.andrea06@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoia
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drigo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen