title: Treatment of canine idiopathic immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia with mycophenolate mofetil and glucocorticoids: 30 cases (2007 to 2011).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare short-term outcome and frequency of adverse events for dogs with idiopathic immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia treated with glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil vs alternate immunosuppressive protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of medical case records of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia was conducted. Data collected included signalment, clinicopathological data, medications administered, duration of hospitalization, short-term survival and adverse events. Variables were compared between dogs treated with glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil (mycophenolate mofetil group) vs dogs treated with other two-drug immunosuppressive protocols (combined group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four cases of idiopathic immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia were identified. Two dogs were euthanased without treatment, three received glucocorticoids alone, and seven received two additional drugs. Fifty-two dogs received glucocorticoids and additional immunosuppressive medications: 30 mycophenolate mofetil, 15 cyclosporine, 6 azathioprine and 1 human immunoglobulin. There was no significant difference between the discharge rate, 30-day or 60-day survival rates between the mycophenolate mofetil and the combined groups (Fisher's exact; P=0·272, 0·518, 1·000, respectively). The sole adverse event observed in the mycophenolate mofetil group was diarrhoea (n=5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of mycophenolate mofetil appears safe in dogs with idiopathic immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. The combination of glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil has similar efficacy to alternate immunosuppressive protocols used to treat this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Creevy
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine