Thromboelastography in Dogs with Chronic Hepatopathies.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Hematology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Coagulation status in dogs with liver disease is challenging to predict using traditional tests.
• Chronic hepatopathies (CH) significantly impact canine health and hemostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess thromboelastography (TEG) findings in dogs with CH.
• To correlate TEG results with conventional coagulation tests and disease severity indicators.

Main Methods:

• Prospective and retrospective enrollment of 21 dogs with CH.
• Kaolin-activated TEG analysis and comparison with reference intervals.
• Correlation analysis of TEG parameters with coagulation assays and clinicopathologic data.

Main Results:

• Dogs with CH exhibited altered TEG parameters, including prolonged R and K times, increased LY30, and decreased angles.
• TEG results varied, categorizing dogs as normocoagulable, hypercoagulable, or hypocoagulable.
• Specific TEG parameters correlated significantly with fibrinogen, PT, aPTT, protein C activity, and clinical scores.
• Hyperfibrinolysis (elevated LY30) was linked to higher serum transaminase activities.
• Portal hypertension correlated with hypocoagulable TEG patterns and prolonged PT.

Conclusions:

• Thromboelastography demonstrates diverse coagulation profiles in dogs with chronic hepatopathies.
• Hypocoagulable TEG parameters serve as negative prognostic indicators in canine CH.
• Hyperfibrinolysis identified by TEG is associated with heightened disease activity in dogs with CH.