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Platelet function in clinically healthy cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: analysis using the Platelet
Karl E Jandrey1, Jeffrey W Norris, Kristin A MacDonald
1Departments of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, CA 95616, USA. kejandrey@ucdavis.edu
Insights
Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100) closure time (CT) did not significantly differ between healthy cats and those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study establishes a feline reference interval for CT, useful for future feline hypercoagulability research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Cardiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Hypercoagulability assessment in cats lacks simple analytical tools.
- The Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100) measures platelet function via closure time (CT).
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats may be associated with hypercoagulability and thromboembolic events.
Purpose of the Study:
- Establish a feline reference interval for PFA-100 CT.
- Measure CT in cats with HCM.
- Compare CT between healthy cats and cats with HCM.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed citrated blood samples from 42 healthy cats and 30 cats with HCM.
- Measured CT in triplicate using the PFA-100 according to manufacturer specifications.
- Compared CT data using Student's t-test and ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Median CT for healthy cats was 64 seconds (range 43-176 seconds).
- Median CT for cats with HCM was 74 seconds (range 48-197 seconds).
- No significant difference in CT was found between healthy cats and cats with HCM, or among different HCM severity groups.
Conclusions:
- A feline reference interval for PFA-100 CT was established.
- Cats with HCM do not exhibit significantly shorter CTs compared to healthy cats.
- Findings suggest PFA-100 CT may not be a reliable indicator of hypercoagulability in feline HCM.
Background:
There is currently no simple analytical tool for the evaluation of hypercoagulability in cats. The Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (PFA-100; Dade Behring Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA) is a bench-top machine that evaluates platelet function by measuring closure time (CT) in citrated whole blood under high shear conditions. We hypothesized that cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have up-regulated platelet function, which shortens their CT and increases their risk for thromboembolic events.
Objectives:
The goals of this study were to: (1) establish a feline reference interval for CT using the PFA-100, (2) measure CT in blood from cats with HCM, and (3) determine if there is a measurable difference between the CT of healthy cats compared with cats with HCM.
Methods:
Citrated blood samples from 42 clinically healthy cats and 30 cats with HCM were analyzed according to manufacturer's specifications. CT was measured in triplicate and the mean value was used for analysis. Transformed data were compared between clinically healthy cats and cats with HCM using a Student's t-test, and among cats with mild, moderate, or severe HCM using ANOVA.
Results:
The median CT of clinically healthy cats was 64 seconds (range 43-176 seconds). The median CT of cats with HCM was 74 seconds (range 48-197 seconds). There was no significant difference in CT between cats with HCM and clinically healthy cats. There also were no significant differences in cats with mild, moderate, or severe HCM.
Conclusions:
A feline reference interval for PFA-100 CT will be useful in future studies of platelet function in cats. Cats with HCM do not have shorter CTs when compared with clinically healthy cats.
