Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Platelet transfusions in dogs: patient details and outcomes from 189
By Saint-Pierre, Laurence M et al.Ā·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)Ā·2023Ā·William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United StatesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Retrospective evaluation of fresh platelet concentrate administration in dogs: Patient characteristics, outcomes, and transfusion practices in 189 transfusion episodes (2008-2019).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 149 dogs, many suffering from severe bleeding issues, received fresh platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions to help increase their platelet counts. The most common reason for these transfusions was immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, a condition where the immune system attacks platelets, leading to bleeding. After receiving the transfusions, most dogs showed a significant increase in their platelet counts, and the procedure was generally safe with very few adverse reactions. About 59% of the dogs survived and were discharged from the hospital after treatment.
People also search for: dog bleeding problems Ā· immune-mediated thrombocytopenia treatment Ā· platelet transfusion for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe patient characteristics, underlying disease processes, clinical outcomes, transfusion dose and type (therapeutic or prophylactic), platelet count changes, and adverse events associated with platelet concentrate (PC) administration in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: A total of 149 dogs, representing 189 PC transfusion episodes. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In this population, 39 of 149 dogs (26.2%) were diagnosed with primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, 22 of 149 (14.8%) had decreased bone marrow production, 12 of 149 (8.0%) received PC during a massive transfusion, 3 of 149 (2.0%) had congenital thrombocytopathia, 59 of 149 (39.6%) had severe thrombocytopenia of other causes, and 14 of 149 (9.4%) underwent transfusion for miscellaneous causes without a documented severe thrombocytopenia. In 117 of 149 dogs (78.5%), >1 site of hemorrhage was noted. The most common sites of hemorrhage were the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in 89 of 149 (59.7%) and the skin in 78 of 149 (52.3%). Overall survival to discharge was 59.1% (88/149). The median PC dose was 0.8 units per 10 kg of body weight per transfusion episode (range: 0.2-6.7). Of 189 episodes, 29 of 189 (15.7%) were prophylactic, and 158 of 189 (83.6%) were therapeutic. For 99 of 189 transfusion episodes, paired pre- and postplatelet counts were available within 24 hours. The median platelet count change was 5.0 × 10/L (5000/μL; range: -115 × 10/L to 158 × 10/L [-115,000 to 158,000/μL]); the posttransfusion platelet count was significantly higher than pretransfusion (P < 0.0001). The increase in platelet count after transfusion was greater in the prophylactic group than the therapeutic group (P = 0.0167). Transfusion reactions were suspected during 2 of 168 episodes (1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia was the most common disease process that resulted in PC transfusion. PC was more frequently administered to animals with active hemorrhage rather than prophylactically, and most dogs had evidence of hemorrhage in multiple organ systems, particularly the GI tract and skin. PC transfusions typically appeared safe, and the median platelet count increased after transfusion.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36799875/