Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia: pathophysiology, clinical signs, and diagnosis.
- Journal:
- Compendium (Yardley, PA)
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Balch, Andrea & Mackin, Andrew
- Affiliation:
- Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a condition where a dog's immune system mistakenly attacks its own red blood cells, leading to anemia, which is a shortage of these cells. This condition is most often seen in middle-aged female dogs, particularly American cocker spaniels. Common signs include being very tired and having a pale appearance due to the anemia. While there isn't a single test that confirms IMHA, veterinarians look for certain clues, such as the dog's age, breed, and specific test results, along with ruling out other causes of anemia. Treatment usually involves medications to suppress the immune system, and the outcome can vary depending on the individual case.
Abstract
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common type of anemia in dogs and cats that results from a type II hypersensitivity reaction. The disease is most common in middle-aged female dogs, especially American cocker spaniels. The common clinical signs are associated with severe anemia and the resultant inflammatory response. There is no pathognomonic test for IMHA, but the following are suggestive of it: the presence of hemolytic anemia in a young adult or middle-aged dog of a predisposed breed, autoagglutination and/or spherocytosis, positive results from a direct antiglobulin (Coombs') test, elimination of any other underlying cause of anemia, and an appropriate response to immunosuppressive therapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17726851/