Coagulation status, fibrinolysis, and platelet dynamics in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy.

BACKGROUND: Coagulation status is poorly understood in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE). Fibrinolytic activity and platelet dynamics have not been evaluated in CIE dogs. OBJECTIVES: To assess coagulation status and fibrinolysis in normoalbuminemic CIE dogs (CIE-N) and CIE dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (CIE-PLE) compared to healthy controls (HC). To evaluate thromboelastography (TEG) variable differences between groups and for correlations with clinicopathologic data. To report platelet dynamics in CIE dogs. ANIMALS: Twenty-five client-owned dogs with CIE (n = 16 CIE-N; n = 9 CIE-PLE); 14 HC beagle dogs. METHODS: All dogs had tissue factor + tissue plasminogen activator TEG. Nine of 25 CIE dogs had whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry. The TEG variables and coagulation data were compared between all CIE vs HC dogs, CIE-N dogs vs HC, and CIE-PLE dogs vs HC. Clinicopathologic and coagulation data were available for CIE dogs and assessed for correlation to TEG variables. RESULTS: Dogs with CIE had higher maximum amplitude (MA; P < .001), longer clot lysis times (CLTs; P < .001), lower % lysis after 30 minutes (LY30; P < .001), and % lysis after 60 minutes (LY60; P < .001) compared to HC, suggesting hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis. When separated out, both CIE-N and CIE-PLE dogs had higher MA, longer CLT, and lower LY30 and LY60 compared to HC. Serum albumin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations, and plasma antithrombin and fibrinogen concentrations moderately correlated with MA. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Normoalbuminemic and hypoalbuminemic CIE dogs were considered hypercoagulable based on TEG compared to HC. Some CIE dogs displayed hypofibrinolytic phenotypes on TEG.