Diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in dogs admitted to an intensive care unit
Bateman, S.W.; Mathews, K.A.; Abrams-Ogg, A.C.; Lumsden, J.H.; Johnstone, I.B.; Hillers, T.K.; Foster, R.A.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215(6): 798-804
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 10496131 Document Number: 507740
Haemostatic function was evaluated in 59 critically ill dogs (affected dogs) with clinical signs of diseases known to predispose to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 52 healthy dogs (control dogs). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin clotting time (TCT), plasma fibrinogen concentration, serum concentration of fibrin and fibrinogen-related antigens (FRA) and plasma antithrombin III (AT III) activity were determined. In some affected dogs, PM tissue specimens were examined for evidence of microvascular thrombosis. A diagnosis of DIC was made by fulfilling at least 3 of the following criteria: abnormal aPTT, PT or TCT value; low plasma fibrinogen concentration; low plasma AT III activity; high serum FRA concentration; or low platelet count. To evaluate the severity of haemostatic dysfunction, 3 arbitrary categories (mild, moderate and severe) were proposed. A diagnostic strategy based on moderate haemostatic dysfunction identified DIC in 16 of 59 (27.1%) affected dogs. The AT III activity was <70% in 15 of 16 dogs with DIC. Microvascular thrombosis was observed in tissue specimens from 7 of 8 affected dogs. Serum FRA and plasma fibrinogen concentrations did not contribute in establishing a diagnosis of DIC. It is concluded that a diagnosis of DIC can be made when haemostatic dysfunction is moderate in dogs with clinical signs of diseases associated with DIC.