This report discusses the diagnosis and treatment of afibrinogenemia in a Chihuahua. Prolongations of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin clotting time (TCT) together with fibrinogen assay results of either no or trace amounts of fibrinogen support a diagnosis of afibrinogenemia. Differential diagnoses include common coagulopathies, liver failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Either aggressive cryoprecipitate or plasma transfusions are required to treat afibrinogenemia. The current guidelines for treatment of coagulopathies include plasma transfusions (either 15–30 mL/kg or until both PT and aPTT are normalized). This report describes a case in which bleeding persisted 2 days after standard plasma transfusion levels were administered and PT and aPTT levels had normalized. In this case, the bleeding was stabilized for up to 2 mo after administering > 54 mL/kg plasma. In human medicine, either cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate is used to increase blood fibrinogen levels to 100 mg/dL for minor bleeding and 200 mg/dL for major bleeding. Further studies are needed; however, the author of this report suggests that aggressive transfusions and monitoring are needed in veterinary afibrinogenemia cases.
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January/February 2013
Case Reports|
January 01 2013
Treatment of Afibrinogenemia in a Chihuahua
Gregory Chambers, DVM, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Gregory Chambers, DVM, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
*
California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group, Los Angeles, CA.
Correspondence: [email protected]
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J Am Anim Hosp Assoc (2013) 49 (1): 70–74.
Citation
Gregory Chambers; Treatment of Afibrinogenemia in a Chihuahua. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1 January 2013; 49 (1): 70–74. doi: https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5837
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