Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test ratios linked to severity in dogs with immune anemia
By Duclos, Antoine A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective Evaluation of Hematological Ratios in Dogs With Nonassociative Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia: 206 Cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 206 dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), a condition where the immune system attacks red blood cells, was studied to see how certain blood ratios related to their health outcomes. The researchers found that while many dogs survived to discharge and for a month after treatment, the blood ratios they looked at didn't help predict how well the dogs would do. Interestingly, dogs that had received glucocorticoids (a type of steroid) before coming to the clinic had a higher chance of not surviving past one month. Overall, the study suggests that these blood ratios aren't very useful for assessing the severity of IMHA in dogs.
People also search for: dog immune-mediated hemolytic anemia treatment · glucocorticoids for dogs · dog blood test results explained
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The utility of hematological ratios in immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs has seldom been investigated. HYPOTHESIS: Hematological ratios are associated with disease severity and outcome in dogs with IMHA. ANIMALS: Two hundred and six client-owned dogs with non-associative IMHA. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study. Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs with non-associative IMHA. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), neutrophil-to-monocyte (NMR), band neutrophil-to-segmented neutrophil (BNR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), neutrophil-to-platelet (NPR) and red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet (RDWPR) ratios were retrospectively calculated. Their association with hematological variables, number of blood transfusions, and survival at discharge, 1 month, and 6 months was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 206 dogs included, 164 (80%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 74-85), 144 (70%, 95% CI: 64-76), and 114 (55%; 95% CI: 48-62) were alive at discharge, one month, and six months, respectively. The hematological ratios were not associated with survival at any time point, regardless of treatment before referral. Only the RDWPR was associated with blood product requirement (odds ratio [OR], 0.70; 95% CI: 0.54-0.91; p < 0.01). Dogs that had received glucocorticoids before referral had a higher 1-month mortality rate compared with glucocorticoid-naïve dogs (73% and 67%, respectively; OR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Hematological ratios had limited value in predicting outcome or disease severity in a large population of dogs with non-associative IMHA. Glucocorticoid treatment before referral was independently associated with decreased survival, likely reflecting selection bias toward dogs with more severe disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40231788/