title: In vitro evaluation of canine hemostasis following dilution with hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) via thromboelastometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of in vitro hemodilution of canine blood with a low molecular weight hy-droxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.4) by means of thromboelastometry (TEM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy adult staff-owned dogs were sampled for the purposes of the study. Samples were also collected from 45 clinically normal dogs to establish thromboelastometric reference intervals.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each dog whole blood was collected by jugular venipuncture and placed into tubes containing 3.8% trisodium citrate and stored at 37°C. Two standard dilutions (1:4 and 1:10) from canine blood specimens were prepared with HES 130/0.4 and saline 0.9%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of dilution were studied by TEM. No statistically significant differences were observed between the TEM values of the control samples and the samples diluted with saline solution (ratio 1:10 and 1:4). In contrast, hypocoagulability was observed in the samples treated with HES 130/0.4, with more severe effects at 1:4 dilution than at 1:10 dilution. The 1:4 dilution with HES 130/0.4 produced marked alterations: CT (P = 0.035) and CFT (P = 0.0007) on the ex-TEM profile, CT (P = 0.0005) and ML (P = 0.0017) on the fib-TEM profile and CFT (P = 0.0043) on the in-TEM, were all significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas MCF (P = 0.0042) and alpha angle (P = 0.002) on the in-TEM and MCF (P = 0.011) and alpha angle (P = 0.001) ex-TEM profiles and MCF (P = 0.0001) on the fib-TEM profile were significantly decreased (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dilution of canine blood with HES 130/0.4 results in a thromboelastometric pattern consistent with hypocoagulation and this effect appears to result from a dose-dependent alteration in fibrinogen concentration and inhibition of platelet function. As this is an in vitro study, further in vivo investigations are necessary to confirm the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Clinical Medicine Section, via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maurella
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gianella
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarducci
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borrelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood*; D006438:Hemodilution / Q000662:veterinary; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000662:veterinary*; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D010952:Plasma Substitutes