Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia with severe thrombocytopenia in a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Abstract

An 8-year-old, female, spayed Pembroke Welsh Corgi presented for a 3-day history of worsening lethargy and pale pink mucous membranes. Hematological analysis revealed a normocytic, normochromic, regenerative anaemia, positive saline agglutination and marked thrombocytopenia, supportive of a diagnosis of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia, either as a secondary result of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia or an additional immune-mediated process. Due to continued decreases in packed cell volume despite immunosuppressive therapy and packed red blood cell transfusion, euthanasia was elected. Gross postmortem examination revealed cutaneous and visceral petechiae to ecchymoses, visceral icterus, and moderate splenomegaly. Microscopically, the bone marrow was hypercellular with moderate to marked increase in numbers of erythroid lineage cells relative to myeloid lineage cells. Few macrophages displayed erythrophagia. Given the drastically worsening thrombocytopenia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia was considered more likely, but this could not be entirely verified. This presentation of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia with thrombocytopenia illustrates the clinical diagnosis and management of immune-mediated haematological diseases in dogs.