Immunmedierad hemolytisk anemi hos hund
en retrospektiv studie
Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) is an immune-mediated
destruction of erythrocytes and is one of the most common haematological
diseases diagnosed in dogs. The haemolysis is a type II immunoreaction and is
initiated by IgG or IgM antibodies or complements.
This retrospective study includes 63 dogs suffering from primary IMHA. The
study was based on information from records from the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in Uppsala
and from the Animal Hospital in Strömsholm. The aim of the study was to
evaluate the progress of the disease, treatment and the prognostic factors in
different breeds, gender and age.
Following criteria were used for the dogs to be allowed in the study: the dogs
were diagnosed with anaemia, the anaemia was regenerative and
autoagglutination and/or spherocytes were seen in the blood.
About 50 % of the dogs in the study were diagnosed with IMHA within 2-6 years
of age. Wire-haired dachshund was remarkably one of the most common breeds in
this study together with Cocker and Springer spaniel. In the literature the most
well-defined breeds are Cocker spaniel and Springer spaniel. Paleness and
tiredness were the main symptoms and cortisone or cortisone and azathioprin in
combination were the two most used treatments. All the dogs were diagnosed to
have severe to mild anaemia. Twenty five percent of the dogs with severe anaemia
died within 6 days.
Forty-two percent of the dogs treated with cortisone and azathioprin and 36 % of
the dogs treated with cortisone alone survived within 6 days. The dogs that had a
severe anaemia and were given a blood transfusion had a decreased survival rate
compared to the dogs that weren't given any blood. This showed that blood
transfusions could be negative in the treatment of IMHA. Mortality in the study
was 56 %.
In conclusion the study showed that a number of negative factors could influence
on the survival in dogs with IMHA. Negative factors were severe anaemia,
thrombocytopenia, autoagglutination, blood transfusions or if the dog didn't show
any recovery in 6 days. To be able to treat these dogs more succesfully in the
future further studies are needed.