ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE LYMPHOMA

Dogs with previously untreated multicentric lymphoma were evaluated fo r the presence of the anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). Specimens were collected for histopathology, haematology, serum biochemistry, direct antiglobulin test (DAT), total serum iron concentration (TSI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), bone marrow cytology, bone marrow iron d etermination and serum erythropoietin concentration (EPO). Thirty-five dogs were included in the study. The haematocrit of anaemic dogs (n = 15, mean +/- standard error: 0.316 +/- 0.0084 l/l, reference range 0. 37-0.55 l/l) was significantly (p < 0.0001) less than non-anaemic dogs (n = 20, mean 0.446 +/- 0.0128 l/l). Anaemic dogs had normal TSI (mea n 23 +/- 3.1 mu mol/l, reference range 6-26 mu mol/l), normal TIBC (me an 61 +/- 2.70 mu mol/l, reference range 50-69 mu mol/l), increased se rum ferritin concentration (mean 1104 +/- 192 mu g/l, reference range 80-800 mu g/l), and normal serum EPO (mean 14.6 +/- 1.88 U/l, referenc e range 5-15 U/l). Non-anaemic dogs had slightly increased TSI (mean 3 0 +/- 2.8 mu mol/l), normal TIBC (mean 60 +/- 4.3 mu mol/l), increased serum ferritin concentration (mean 1543 +/- 302 mu g/l), and normal s erum EPO (mean 14.5 +/- 1.64 U/l, n = 23). These values were not signi ficantly different between groups (p > 0.1). Bone marrow iron stores w ere normal to increased in all dogs. These results do riot support ACD as the cause of anaemia in dogs with lymphoma.