Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bleeding and clotting problems in dogs with Angiostrongylus vasorum
By Sigrist, N E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2017·Department for Small Animals·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hyperfibrinolysis and Hypofibrinogenemia Diagnosed With Rotational Thromboelastometry in Dogs Naturally Infected With Angiostrongylus vasorum.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs infected with a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum showed signs of bleeding, which can be serious. In a study of 21 dogs, those with bleeding had a condition called hyperfibrinolysis (where the body breaks down blood clots too quickly) and low fibrinogen levels (a protein important for blood clotting). Treatment with tranexamic acid helped reduce the bleeding issue, and plasma transfusions improved clotting function in many of the affected dogs. Overall, about two-thirds of the dogs survived after treatment, regardless of whether they showed bleeding signs.
People also search for: dog bleeding after parasite infection · Angiostrongylus vasorum treatment · tranexamic acid for dogs bleeding
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pathomechanism of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection-associated bleeding diathesis in dogs is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To describe rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters in dogs naturally infected with A. vasorum and to compare ROTEM parameters between infected dogs with and without clinical signs of bleeding. ANIMALS: A total of 21 dogs presented between 2013 and 2016. METHODS: Dogs with A. vasorum infection and ROTEM evaluation were retrospectively identified. Thrombocyte counts, ROTEM parameters, clinical signs of bleeding, therapy, and survival to discharge were retrospectively retrieved from patient records and compared between dogs with and without clinical signs of bleeding. RESULTS: Evaluation by ROTEM showed hyperfibrinolysis in 8 of 12 (67%; 95% CI, 40-86%) dogs with and 1 of 9 (11%; 95% CI, 2-44%) dogs without clinical signs of bleeding (P = .016). Hyperfibrinolysis was associated with severe hypofibrinogenemia in 6 of 10 (60%; 95% CI, 31-83%) of the cases. Hyperfibrinolysis decreased or resolved after treatment with 10-80 mg/kg tranexamic acid. Fresh frozen plasma (range, 14-60 mL/kg) normalized follow-up fibrinogen function ROTEM (FIBTEM) maximal clot firmness in 6 of 8 dogs (75%; 95% CI, 41-93%). Survival to discharge was 67% (14/21 dogs; 95% CI, 46-83%) and was not different between dogs with and without clinical signs of bleeding (P = .379). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hyperfibrinolysis and hypofibrinogenemia were identified as an important pathomechanism in angiostrongylosis-associated bleeding in dogs. Hyperfibrinolysis and hypofibrinogenemia were normalized by treatment with tranexamic acid and plasma transfusions, respectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28480552/