EFFICACY OF FRESH-FROZEN PLASMA AND CRYOPRECIPITATE IN DOGS WITH VON-WILLEBRANDS-DISEASE OR HEMOPHILIA-A

Here we report the comparative efficacy of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) a nd cryoprecipitate in the treatment of 2 inherited bleeding disorders in dogs. The dogs were divided into 3 groups, consisting of 4 Doberman Pinschers with type I von Willebrand's disease (vWD) (group 1), 1 Sco ttish Terrier with type III vWD (group 2), and 1 German Shepherd Does with hemophilia A (group 3). In vWD, therapeutic efficacy was determin ed by the ability of the products to increase von Willebrand factor an tigen (vWf:Ag) concentrations above 35 canine units (CU)/dL and to cor rect the prolonged buccal mucosal bleeding time. Therapeutic efficacy in hemophilia A was assessed by the ability of the products to increas e the factor VIII coagulant (FVIII:C) activity above 30 CU/dL. In both groups I and 2, higher increases in vWf:Ag were achieved with cryopre cipitate than with FFP, despite a significantly smaller total amount o f vWf:Ag (in CU) being infused with cryoprecipitate, The maximum vWf:A g attained after infusion in group 1 was dependent on both the baselin e vWf:Ap concentration and on the type of infusion product. The dogs w ith vWD in both groups also displayed a delayed increase in FVIII:C ac tivity after infusion of both plasma products, which is characteristic of the disease. In group 3, cryoprecipitate achieved similar increase s in FVIII:C activity compared to FFP, although a significantly lesser amount of FVIII:C (in CU) was delivered with cryoprecipitate. Six of the 9 dogs treated with FFP experienced adverse effects ranging from m ild pruritus to pallor and weakness. whereas none of the 9 dogs treate d with cryoprecipitate had any observable adverse reactions (P =.009). Based on its efficacy and safety, we recommend cryoprecipitate over F FP for treatment or prophylaxis of hemorrhagic episodes in dogs with v WD or hemophilia A.