Immunmedierad hemolytisk anemi hos hund : en retrospektiv studie

Abstract: Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) is an immune-mediated destruction of erythrocytes and is one of the most common haematological diseases diagnosed in dogs. The haemolysis is a type II immunoreaction and is initiated by IgG or IgM antibodies or complements. This retrospective study includes 63 dogs suffering from primary IMHA. The study was based on information from records from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in Uppsala and from the Animal Hospital in Strömsholm. The aim of the study was to evaluate the progress of the disease, treatment and the prognostic factors in different breeds, gender and age. Following criteria were used for the dogs to be allowed in the study: the dogs were diagnosed with anaemia, the anaemia was regenerative and autoagglutination and/or spherocytes were seen in the blood. About 50 % of the dogs in the study were diagnosed with IMHA within 2-6 years of age. Wire-haired dachshund was remarkably one of the most common breeds in this study together with Cocker and Springer spaniel. In the literature the most well-defined breeds are Cocker spaniel and Springer spaniel. Paleness and tiredness were the main symptoms and cortisone or cortisone and azathioprin in combination were the two most used treatments. All the dogs were diagnosed to have severe to mild anaemia. Twenty five percent of the dogs with severe anaemia died within 6 days. Forty-two percent of the dogs treated with cortisone and azathioprin and 36 % of the dogs treated with cortisone alone survived within 6 days. The dogs that had a severe anaemia and were given a blood transfusion had a decreased survival rate compared to the dogs that weren't given any blood. This showed that blood transfusions could be negative in the treatment of IMHA. Mortality in the study was 56 %. In conclusion the study showed that a number of negative factors could influence on the survival in dogs with IMHA. Negative factors were severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia, autoagglutination, blood transfusions or if the dog didn't show any recovery in 6 days. To be able to treat these dogs more succesfully in the future further studies are needed.