Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are the two immune-mediated blood disorders you are most likely to meet in dogs, and both can kill within days. In each, antibodies (and in ITP also cytotoxic T cells) mark the dog's own red cells or platelets for destruction. The exam expects you to recognise the pattern, prove the immune basis with simple in-clinic tests, start immunosuppression, and manage the complications: thrombosis in IMHA, bleeding in ITP.
Key facts
Immune-mediated disease (hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia) at a glance- Species: dog (both diseases also occur in cats, less often).
- System: hemic and lymphatic.
- Cause: type II (antibody-mediated, cytotoxic) hypersensitivity against red cells (IMHA) or platelets (ITP); primary (no trigger found) or secondary to infection, drugs, neoplasia or other disease.
- Classic IMHA dog: middle-aged spaniel with acute weakness, pale or icteric mucous membranes, spherocytes and a positive saline agglutination test.
- Classic ITP dog: middle-aged female Cocker Spaniel with petechiae, epistaxis or melena and a platelet count under 30,000/µL.
- Biggest killers: thromboembolism in IMHA; hemorrhage (GI, CNS, lungs) in ITP.
- Evans syndrome: IMHA and ITP together in the same patient.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and monitoring
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.