HEMATOLOGY AND CLINICAL-CHEMISTRY OF ENGLISH SPRINGER-SPANIEL DOGS WITH PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE DEFICIENCY

Haematologic and serum clinical chemical values were compared from fiv e to nine phosphofructokinase (PFK)-deficient (when not in haemolytic crisis) and five normal adult English springer spaniel dogs. Affected dogs had macrocytic hypochromic compensated haemolytic anaemias (haema tocrit 0.35 +/- 0.02 l/l, mean +/- standard deviation), with markedly increased absolute reticulocyte counts of 859 +/- 320 x 10(9)/l (norma l control dogs, 29 +/- 10 x 10(9)/l). Bone marrow evaluation of affect ed dogs revealed erythroid hyperplasia with normal or increased amount s of stainable iron, as would be expected in response to a haemolytic anaemia. Although the platelet count was not different from that of no rmal control dogs, the mean platelet volume was nearly 50% higher in a ffected dogs. Absolute numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocy tes were higher in affected dogs (10.7 +/- 1.3, 4.4 +/- 1.2 and 1.4 +/ - 0.5 x 10(9)/l, respectively) than in normal control dogs (6.8 +/- 1. 4, 3.0 +/- 0.3 and 0.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(9)/1, respectively). Affected dogs also had higher serum iron (58 +/- 25 mumol/l) and ferritin (1081 +/- 172 mug/l) concentrations than normal control dogs (24 +/- 5 mumol/l and 512 +/- 222 mug/l, respectively), providing evidence for increased body iron stores. Serum haptoglobin was very low in most affected dog s, indicating that some degree of intravascular haemolysis occurs even when haemoglobinuria is not observed. Serum chemical analysis reveale d slightly higher potassium, magnesium, and calcium values in affected dogs compared go normal dogs. Consistent with the presence of a haemo lytic anaemia, serum bilirubin from affected dogs was increased in mos t affected dogs (14 +/- 8 mumol/l compared to 2 +/- 1 mumol/l in norma l control dogs). Serum urea was also higher (10.9 +/- 2.8 v 6.2 +/- 1. 3 mmol/l), but creatinine was lower (53 +/- 8 v 85 +/- 12 mumol/l) in affected dogs, compared to normal control dogs. Serum creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase from affected dogs we re at least double that of normal control dogs. Serum protein and tota l globulins were slightly higher, but albumin was slightly lower in af fected compared to normal control dogs.