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Hemostatic changes in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis
Armelle M de Laforcade1, Lisa M Freeman, Scott P Shaw
1Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. armelle.delaforcade@tufts.edu
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|October 8, 2003
Summary
Canine sepsis significantly alters blood clotting. Septic dogs showed lower antithrombin (AT) and protein C (PC) activity, alongside higher clotting times and markers like D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP).
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Critical Care
- Hematology
Background:
- Sepsis is a major cause of death in critically ill patients.
- Understanding hemostatic changes in sepsis is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Canine sepsis research provides valuable comparative insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hemostatic alterations in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis.
- To compare coagulation parameters between septic and healthy control dogs.
- To identify potential roles for antithrombin and protein C in canine sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 20 septic dogs and 28 control dogs.
- Blood samples collected within 24 hours of admission for septic dogs.
- Analysis of prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer (DD), antithrombin (AT), and protein C (PC) activity.
Main Results:
- Septic dogs had significantly lower AT and PC activity compared to controls (P < .001).
- Dogs with sepsis exhibited significantly higher PT (P = .007), PTT (P = .005), D-dimer (P = .005), and FDP (P = .001).
- Platelet counts and outcome associations were not significantly different.
Conclusions:
- Canine sepsis is associated with significant hemostatic system activation and consumption.
- Reduced antithrombin and protein C activity are key findings in canine sepsis.
- Further research into AT and PC roles in canine sepsis is warranted.