ABSTRACT
As improved diagnostic reagents become available, greater diagnostic accuracy can be expected. After a thorough clinical and laboratory examination, intensive therapy must be started immediately and maintained until clinical remission is achieved. An effort must be made to determine the existence of associated disease states and to institute appropriate treatment. Prognosis is guarded when AIHA is accompanied by severe hepatic and renal diseases, especially in the older animal. Prognosis is more guarded when AIHA is associated with either AITP or SLE. Remissions are to be expected and necessitate continual laboratory examinations and prolonged therapy. With care and tenacity, careful management can provide long-term benefits to the patient.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/veterinary , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/diagnosis , Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/therapy , Animals , Blood Transfusion/veterinary , Cat Diseases/therapy , Cats , Coombs Test/veterinary , Dog Diseases/therapy , Dogs , Heparin/therapeutic use , Splenectomy/veterinaryABSTRACT
Autoimmune thrombocytopenia has been recognized as a distinct entity in the dog and cat. It is characterized by: (1) clinical signs of thrombocytopenia, such as hemorrhages into the skin and tissues and from body orifices, (2) coagulation defects related to thrombocytopenia, such as prolonged bleeding time and poor clot retraction, (3) hematologic changes such as severe to moderate thrombocytopenia, often blood loss anemia, and signs of increased erythropoiesis, and (4) an absence or decreased number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow during early phase and increased number during compensatory phase. Megakaryocytes may also show morphologic abnormalities. Serologic diagnosis of AITP in the dog and cat currently involves demonstration of antiplatelet antibody in serum by PF-3 test and/or associated with marrow megakaryocytes by a technique of direct immunofluorescence. Circumstances leading to formation of antiplatelet antibody remain unknown. Immune-mediated platelet destruction is believed to occur in the reticuloendothelial system, primarily in the spleen. Treatment consists primarily of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. Dogs with primary AITP generally respond favorably to such therapy.
