Disseminated intravascular coagulation in cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complex syndrome with significant morbidity and mortality in veterinary medicine.
• Understanding the clinical profile and risk factors for DIC in cats is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical features of feline DIC.
• To identify associated diseases and hemostatic abnormalities.
• To determine risk factors for mortality and potentially influential treatments.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of medical records for cats diagnosed with DIC between 1990 and 2004.
• Inclusion criteria involved an underlying disorder and specific diagnostic findings (postmortem or coagulation profiles).
• Data collected included signalment, history, clinical and clinicopathologic findings, underlying diseases, management, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Forty-six cats met the DIC criteria, with a median age of 9 years.
• Common underlying conditions included lymphoma, neoplasia, pancreatitis, and sepsis.
• The overall survival rate was low (7%), with 93% of cats dying or being euthanized. Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) was significantly associated with non-survival.

Conclusions:

• Feline DIC is associated with a high mortality rate and can arise from diverse neoplastic, infectious, and inflammatory conditions.
• While many factors were not associated with outcome, prolonged PT emerged as a significant predictor of death.
• Further research may elucidate more specific therapeutic targets for improving survival in cats with DIC.