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Kaolin-activated thromboelastography in echocardiographically normal cats
Daniel J Hall1, John E Rush, Armelle M deLaforcade
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. dhall@scvetspecialists.com
Insights
Kaolin-activated thromboelastography (TEG) provides reliable hemostasis values in healthy cats. Sedation minimally impacts TEG results, suggesting its utility in feline veterinary diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary diagnostics
- Hemostasis analysis
- Feline medicine
Background:
- Thromboelastography (TEG) is a valuable tool for assessing hemostasis.
- Establishing reference values is crucial for accurate interpretation in specific species.
- Echocardiographic assessment aids in identifying cardiac health in cats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference values for kaolin-activated TEG in echocardiographically normal cats.
- To assess the reliability and intra-assay variability of the TEG test in this population.
- To investigate the potential impact of sedation on TEG parameters.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic examination of 30 healthy cats by a board-certified cardiologist.
- Blood sample collection for kaolin-activated TEG analysis.
- Analysis of TEG variables, PCV, total solids, platelet count, aPTT, PT, fibrinogen, and antithrombin levels.
Main Results:
- Kaolin-activated TEG demonstrated low intra-assay variability (<5%) for all tested variables.
- Mean values obtained: reaction time (4.3 min), clotting time (1.6 min), α angle (66.5°), and maximum amplitude (56.4 mm).
- Sedation resulted in a shorter clotting time and greater α angle, with no significant changes in reaction time or maximum amplitude.
Conclusions:
- Kaolin-activated TEG is a reliable diagnostic test in echocardiographically normal cats.
- Sedation has a minor, likely clinically insignificant, effect on certain TEG parameters.
- Further research is needed to determine the effect of subclinical cardiomyopathy on feline TEG values.
Objective:
To determine reference values for kaolin-activated thromboelastography in echocardiographically normal cats.
Animals:
30 healthy cats without evidence of cardiomyopathy on echocardiographic examination.
Procedures:
All cats underwent echocardiographic examination, the findings of which were reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist. Cats that struggled (n = 10) received mild sedation with butorphanol and midazolam IM to permit phlebotomy without interruption in jugular venous blood flow. Blood samples were collected for analysis of thromboelastography variables, PCV, total solids concentration, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, fibrinogen concentration, and antithrombin concentration.
Results:
All 4 thromboelastography variables had < 5% mean intra-assay variability. Mean values were as follows: reaction time, 4.3 minutes; clotting time, 1.6 minutes; α angle, 66.5°; and maximum amplitude, 56.4 mm. Compared with nonsedated cats, cats that required sedation had a significantly shorter clotting time and greater α angle, whereas reaction time and maximum amplitude were not significantly different.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
Kaolin-activated thromboelastography was a reliable test with unremarkable intra-assay variability in echocardiographically normal cats. Sedation may affect certain thromboelastography variables, but the effect is unlikely to be clinically important. It remains unknown whether subclinical cardiomyopathy has a significant effect on thromboelastography variables in cats.
