Keywords

JBVC

The Journal of Bombay Veterinary College

0971-1643

An Official Organ of Bombay Veterinary College Alumni Association

jbvc-14-1and2-041

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Study of Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) in dog

Mali

H. V.

Gangurde

K. C.

Keskar

D. V.

Gaikwad

R. V.

Department of Medicine Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai - 400 012.

6–122006

141–2135135

KeywordsAIHAleucocytosiscyclophosphamide

Auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is commonly observed disease in dogs. The AIHA is a life threatening immunohematological disorder which arises when erythrocytes (or rarely bone marrow erythroid precursors) are destroyed due to Type II hypersensitivity, after the attachment of immunoglobulins to the cell membrane (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">Jain <italic>et al.</italic>, 1986</xref>). AIHA occurs due to presence of IgG, IgM, and/or complement on the surface of red cell membrane. The antibodies involved in pathogenesis of AIHA, can be classified as cold reactive and warm reactive (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">Jain <italic>et al.</italic>, 1986</xref>). The disease was recorded in cats, horses, cows and also but is most common in dogs (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib001">Bennett <italic>et al.</italic>, 1981</xref>).A female Pomeranian dog aged 8 years was presented with complaints of weakness, partial anorexia, lethargy and melena. The dog was treated with antibiotics, multivitamins and fluid therapy but there was not responding satisfactorily. The physical examination revealed mild fever, pin point hemorrhages on buccal mucus membrane, mild icterus, pale mucus membrane and hepatosplenomegaly on palpation of abdomen.The complete blood count (CBC), platelet count and slide agglutination tests at different temperature were performed regularly (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib004">Day, 1996</xref>) leucocytic changes and to observed autoagglutination of RBCs. The CBC report was decreased hemoglobin (Hb) level, leucocytosis with increased neutrophil (%) count.The suggested first line therapy for canine AIHA involves use of tapered immunosuppressive doses of Inj. Prednisolone @ 2–4 mg/kg body weight daily. The autoagglutination of RBCs and leucocytosis was not improving satisfactorily. So Inj. Cyclophosphamide @ 50mg/m2 was administered for first four days of each week for one month (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib003">Burgess <italic>et al.</italic> 2000</xref>). The CBC and slidethagglutination was performed on day of cyclophosphamide therapy. The results were decrease in degree of autoagglutination of RBCs and leucocyte count and secondary increase in hemoglobin concentration. Other supportive therapeutic management such as fluid therapy, multivitamins was given.</sec></body><back><ref-list><title>ReferencsBennett

Finnett

S.L.

Nash

A.S.

Kirkham

, (1981) Primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia in dog. Vet. Rec. 109: 150–153.Jain

N. C.

Feldman

B. F.

Zinkl

J. G.

, (1986) Schalm's Veterinary Hematology. 5^th ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Tokyo.Burgess

Moore

Rand

Cotter

S. M.

, (2000) Treatment of immune mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs with cyclophosphamide. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 14 (4): 456–462.Day

M. J.

, (1996) Serial monitoring of clinical, hematological and immunological parameters in canine autoimmune hemolytic anemia. J. Small Anim. Pract. 37 (11): 523–534.