Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency causing chronic hemolytic anemia and osteosclerosis in a longhaired dachshund

A fifteen-month-old female longhaired dachs-hound with chronic hemolytic an emia, mild exercise intolerance and osteosclerosis was found to have an ery throcyte pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. The anemia was macrocytic-normoch romic and highlyregenerative. Splenomegaly and increased intramedullary den sity of the long bones suggestive of osteosclerosis were radiographically n oted. The erythrocytic concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the affec ted dog was higher when compared to a control. Erythrocyte PK deficiency wa s confirmed by the absence of R-type PK isoenzyme. Hereditary erythrocytic PK deficiency has previously been described in the Basenji, Beagle, West Highland White and Cairn Terrier, American Eskimo dog and Miniature Poodle and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in young dogs with severe hemolytic anemia and osteosclerosis.