HEMOSTATIC DISORDERS AS A COMPLICATION OF AUTOIMMUNOHAEMOLYTIC ANEMIAIN DOGS

In eleven of 15 investigated dogs suffering from autoimmune haemolytic anaemia an increased concentration of soluble fibrin (p < 0,001) and in all of these 15 dogs an increased concentration of fibrin(ogen) deg radation products was observed. The increased turnover indicated by th ese markers of intravascular coagulation and hyperfibrinolysis was dec ompensated in approximately the half of the patients which was shown b y a decrease of platelet count, activity of different coagulation fact ors as well as of the inhibitor antithrombin III. The consumption indu ced decrease of activity was especially related to prekallikrein and h igh molecular weight kininogen reflecting an activation mainly of the initial intrinsic system by the haemolytic anaemia and was also indica ted by the activated partial thromboplastin time which was distinctly prolonged in some cases. The results of this study demonstrate the nec essity of an anticoagulant therapy in dogs suffering from autoimmune h aemolytic anaemia.