VetNet®
VetNet® AIHA discussion forum
VetNet® Forum
Lifelong Learning Network
www.vetnetlln.ac.uk
Veterinary Recruitment
Premier Partner Program
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - DIC associated with IMHA
| Has anyone experienced their dog being diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation due to IMHA? My dog Tipsi who was diagnosed with IMHA 3 weeks ago also went into DIC within a day or two. She received several transfusions of plasma to help her coagulation times as well as her platelet count. These treatments worked and the DIC subsided. Since she has been out of the hospital we have continued to keep her on dosages of heparin and has done quite well. We received her blood work results today and she still shows 2 mild signs of the DIC. It's my understanding that to actually be classified as having DIC you have to have at least 3 or 4 of the 5 signs. However, I could be wrong. Which is why I'm wondering what anyone elses experiecnce with this is. Tipsi has done so well since she was released from the hospital and I'm worried this could be a bad sign. |
| Layla Raleigh |
| Layla, I had to research this earlier this year and I have seen DIC mentioned many times in literature referenced to AIHA. I have snipped a few below, but there are many that you can find on the internet. I have seen several references to the use of aspirin as very effective in aiha. Check with your vet. Here is one link that I found that mentions it in a study: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1390 The 2002 study by Drs. Anthony Carr, David Panciera, and Linda Kidd at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine reviewed 72 dogs with IMHA looking for trends. Their findings are: snip># 58% were suspected of having disseminated intravascular coagulation. Here is another brief of a study: http://www.eattheapple.com/imha.htm snip>Hemostatic abnormalities in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Scott-Moncrieff JC, Treadwell NG, McCullough SM, Brooks MB. Dep of Vet Clin Sci, School of Vet Med, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2001 May-Jun;37(3):220-7 Hemostatic parameters were prospectively measured in 20 dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Eight of 20 dogs had received prior treatment with prednisone. Activated partial thromboplastin time was increased in nine dogs; one-stage prothrombin time was increased in two dogs; fibrinogen concentration was increased in 17 dogs; and antithrombin activity was decreased in 10 dogs. Fibrin(ogen) degradation products concentration was increased in 12 dogs, and D-dimer concentration was increased in 16 dogs. Four or more laboratory criteria of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were present in nine dogs, and three criteria of DIC were found in four additional dogs. Thromboembolism was the most common finding in the dogs that died. In this study population, mortality was not significantly associated with any clinical finding or laboratory variable. Here is a general look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disseminated_intravascular_coagulation And here is a mention of using heparin: http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/immune%20disorders/autoimmune%20hemolytic%20anemia.htm Prophylactic heparin may be given in fulminating AIHA to decrease the risks of DIC, but its use is controversial where there is bleeding due to DIC and severe thrombocytopenia. Patrice |
| Patrice New York State |
| Thanks Patrice! :) |
| Layla Raleigh |
| I Do not know what DIC is but when Cranky was diagnosed with IMHA. He was initially sent home with asprin 1mg he weighs 5 pds. After the first week they discontinued the asprin. After lots of research on IMHA there seems to be alot that die from PE Pulmanary Embolism (pardon my spelling). So I talked to my Vet who talked to the head vet at the clinic and he said absolutely to keep Cranky on asprin. We are about 70 days out from initial diagnosis so far so good. But alway scared he will relapse. Teresa and Cranky |
| Teresa Smithfield |
This thread was discussed between 11/10/2007 and 12/10/2007
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
