Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How endotoxemia changes blood clotting tests in dogs
By Eralp, O et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2011·Department of Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of experimental endotoxemia on thrombelastography parameters, secondary and tertiary hemostasis in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy dogs was given a low dose of a substance that can cause severe infections (lipopolysaccharide) to see how it affected their blood clotting. The dogs showed signs of illness like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Blood tests revealed that within an hour, their white blood cell count dropped significantly, and levels of D-Dimers (a marker for blood clotting issues) increased. After four hours, they had elevated body temperatures and changes in other blood clotting measures. This study found that D-Dimers were the first sign of clotting problems due to endotoxemia, while other tests were less reliable.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thrombelastography (TEG) and indicators of secondary and tertiary hemostasis might be altered in dogs with endotoxemia. HYPOTHESIS: Endotoxemia influences measures of coagulation in dogs. ANIMALS: Ten healthy cross-bred dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective laboratory study between controls (n = 5) receiving 0.9% saline IV and the study group (n = 5) treated with low-dose lipopolysaccharide (0.02 mg/kg IV). Physical examination and sampling for measurement of leukocytes, platelets, and coagulation variables were performed at time points 0, 1, 4, and 24 hours. Coagulation variables included kaolin-activated TEG, 1-stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, protein C, protein S, activated protein C (APC)-ratio calculated from aPTT with and without presence of APC), and D-Dimers. RESULTS: Endotoxemia-induced clinical signs included lethargy (n = 5/5), diarrhea (n = 4/5), emesis (n = 4/5), and abdominal pain (2/5). After 1 hour there was severe leukopenia (2.5 ± 0.7 × 10(9)/L; mean ± SD, P < .0001) and a 2.2-fold increase in D-Dimers (0.81 ± 0.64 mg/L, P < .0001). After 4 hours there was hyperthermia (40.3 ± 0.4°C, P < .0001) and increases in OSPT (10.5 ± 2.7 seconds, P < .0001), aPTT (16.7 ± 5.2 seconds, P = 0.002). A significant decrease in fibrinogen (1.5 ± 1.0 g/L, P = 0.001), protein C (31 ± 33%, P < .0001), protein S (63 ± 47%, P < .0001), TEG α (58 ± 19, P = .007), and TEG maximal amplitude (50 ± 19 mm, P = .003) was seen compared with the controls. APC-ratio rose significantly (2.5 ± 0.2, P < .0001) without exceeding the reference interval (n = 4/5). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: D-Dimers are the earliest indicator for endotoxemia-associated coagulation abnormalities followed by decreased protein C concentration. APC-ratio and TEG were not good screening variables.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21418317/