This is sooooo complicated.....essentially, bottom line, it is "the rapid destruction of RBCs that are coated with antibodies or antigen-antibody complexes. It is characterized by a regenerative anemia. Primary IHA involves only the RBCs and accounts for 60-70% of the cases in dogs. One study has provided evidence for a temporal relationship of vaccine associated IHA in dogs. Secondary IHA is associated with a wide variety of underlying conditions, including: immune mediated thrombocytopenia, systemic lupus erythematosus, viral disease, severe bacterial infection, granatous disease, lymphosarcoma, lymphocytic leukemia, and drug administration. The causitive drugs commonly associated with IHA include trimethoprim sulfa and ormetoprim sulfa in dogs. Therapy involves suppressing the destruction of RBC and decreasing the production of destructive antibodies. Corticosteroids are initially used, if they dont work, transfusions and plasmaphoresis have been shown to be effective...also human immunoglobulin has been effective in dogs." This is condensed and taken from 2 pages out of Merck Veterinary Manual....this seems to be VERY complicated and I am stunned how in the world this dog was diagnosed and what symptoms he presented with clinically ? I think I would be seeking the help of specialists at a vet school for starters and see where in the world you would go from this point. Apparently the dog presents with weakness, fever, possible collapse, anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. They dont have a prognosis in the book.... |