Presumed primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in four cats

J Feline Med Surg. 2008 Oct;10(5):495-500. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2008.01.003. Epub 2008 Mar 12.

Abstract

Feline primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (pIMT) is a rare hematological disorder. Platelet-bound antibody assays for cats have variable specificity and sensitivity and are not widely available. Diagnosis of pIMT is made on the basis of exclusion of other identifiable causes of thrombocytopenia and the response to immunosuppressive therapy. This report describes four cats with severe thrombocytopenia and no detectable underlying disease. One cat was euthanased because of pulmonary hemorrhage, while the other cats had frequent relapses, two of these cats developed diabetes mellitus due to long-term corticosteroid therapy. In these cats IMT had a chronic course and responded poorly to therapy with prednisolone. Alternative immunomodulatory drugs may be considered in the treatment of feline IMT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / veterinary*
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cat Diseases / pathology
  • Cats
  • Diabetes Mellitus / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus / veterinary
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy
  • Thrombocytopenia / pathology
  • Thrombocytopenia / veterinary*
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Prednisolone