Hemostatic abnormalities in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Hemostatic parameters were prospectively measured in 20 dogs with primary i mmune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Eight of 20 dogs had received prior treatm ent with prednisone, Activated partial thromboplastin time was increased in nine dogs; one-stage prothrombin time was increased in two dogs; fibrinoge n concentration was increased in 17 dogs; and antithrombin activity was dec reased in 10 dogs. Fibrin(ogen) degradation products concentration was incr eased in 12 dogs, and D-dimer concentration was increased in 16 dogs. Four or more laboratory criteria of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were present in nine dogs, and three criteria of DIC were found in four ad ditional dogs, Thromboembolism was the most common finding in the dogs that died. In this study population, mortality was not significantly associated with any clinical finding or laboratory variable.