Anemia of inflammatory disease in the dog: clinical characterization

To characterize the erythroid homeostatic defect in canine inflammatory states, a single dose of Freund's complete adjuvant was injected subcutaneously to simulate naturally occurring infection and inflammation. After a latent period of 5 to 8 days, a generalized noninfectious inflammatory process was observed, followed by abscessation and drainage. This was accompanied by a modest anemia which decreased from base-line values by as much as 30%. In addition, a disordered iron metabolism was evidenced by depressed serum iron concentrations, total iron binding capacity (transferrin), percentage saturation of transferrin, and decreased numbers of bone marrow sideroblasts. Free RBC protoporphyrin concentrations were increased, as were serum copper, zinc, and ceruloplasmin. Bone marrow reticuloendothelial iron and hepatic nonheme iron were increased. Bone marrow myeloid-erythroid ratios were depressed. Throughout the course of the inflammatory period, the anemia remained normocytic and normochromic. A significant reticulocyte response was not observed.