Thrombocyte indices and plateletcrit in dogs with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is one of the most common autoimmune disorders in dogs. Platelet indices in dogs with IMHA have not been commonly used in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trombocyte indices, including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPW), platelet size deviation width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) in dogs with primary IMHA and to compare them with the corresponding values in a control series of healthy dogs. This study was performed on 21 dogs diagnosed with primary IMHA and 11 healthy dogs. The inclusion criteria were the presence of a positive Coombs' test, true agglutination, anemia with HCT <35%, hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubinuria, hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, and spherocytosis. MPV and PDW were significantly higher in the dogs with IMHA compared to the reference population. No significant differences were found in PLT and PCT between the groups. The use of MPV and PDW values in evaluating the bone marrow response would be helpful in dogs with primary IMHA.