Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia

     Information for Patients and Veterinarians

What is AIHA?

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells (RBC).  A pet suffering with AIHA will have a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells within the blood.  This is termed anemia.  The normal range for the packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit is 37-55% (the ratio of the volume of packed red cells to the whole blood).

AIHA is classified as a “primary” immune disease.  No underlying cause of the immune destruction can be found after an exhaustive clinical and laboratory evaluation.  A “secondary” disease is called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).  IMHA refers to all anemias that occur when the immune system inadvertently destroys its own blood cells secondary to an immune attack directed against an underlying condition such as cancer, endocarditis, heartworm or by unidentifiable causes as in AIHA.

What are the Symptoms of AIHA?

When a large percentage of red blood cells (RBC) are affected, and they are removed faster then they can be replaced, the animal shows external signs of the disease.

The clinical signs of AIHA are usually gradual and progressive, but occasionally an apparently healthy pet suddenly collapses in an acute hemolytic crisis.  The signs are usually related to lack of oxygen supply.  The hemoglobin in RBC is the primary carrier of oxygen in the blood.  Signs include weakness, lethargy, anorexia, and an increase in the heart rate and respiration.  Heart murmurs, pale mucous membranes (gums, eyelids, etc.), and discoloration in the urine and/or stool may also be present.  More severe cases also have a fever and icterus (jaundice), which is a yellow discoloration of the gums, eyes, and skin.  This is due to a buildup of bilirubin, one of the breakdown products of hemoglobin. 

The diagnosis of AIHA/IMHA is usually made on these clinical signs as well as a complete blood count (CBC).  The CBC usually shows a regenerative anemia with spherocytes.  Spherocytes are a special type of red blood cell that develops in IMHA.  The blood samples may auto-agglutinate (clump).  A Coombs test may be done to support the diagnosis.  

Why My Pet? 

Unfortunately no one knows why an individual pet develops AIHA/IMHA.  Certain breeds such as cocker spaniels and poodles are at a higher risk than other breeds.  Middle-aged female dogs are also at a higher risk.  However immune-mediated hemolytic anemia may occur in any breed at anytime.

Typically, the veterinary medical field has not discovered why an individual dog gets AIHA/IMHA.  However, evidence suggests that recent vaccinations (DHLPP) may be associated with a higher incidence of IMHA and so has the administration of certain medications like sulfa-trimethoprim antibiotics.  Dogs with serious infections or cancers in their body may also develop IMHA.  The thought for the underlying cause is that something (i.e., vaccine, cancer cells) triggers the immune system to react and to create antibodies.

Accidently the antibodies also destroy the red blood cells and sometimes also the platelets (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura); and therefore, the first sign of illness may be the anemia.

Is There a Cure?

AIHA is better thought of as a disease that is controlled rather than cured.  Medications are used to decrease the hyperactivity of the immune system and suppress the abnormal immune response directed against RBC.

Treatments may need to be given indefinitely, but at least for several months.  Most dogs are on medications for at least 4-6 months, some much longer. Dogs that have had AIHA once are more likely to get it again, particularly if they are weaned off medicines very rapidly (less than 2 months).

What are the Treatments?

The initial drugs used are cortisone medication (prednisone, dexamethasone).  Prednisone takes approximately 5-7 days to become effective, during which time the animal’s disease may worsen. Other cytotoxic drugs such as imuran (azathioprine), cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), and danazol shut down the immune cells (lymphocytes) producing antibodies and/or stop cells of the immune system that destroy the RBC (macrophages).  Other immunosuppressive therapies such as cyclosporine administration and a host of other experimental treatments are or have been used by various clinicians.

Most pets with AIHA/IMHA are presented for weakness and lethargy; i.e., the effects of anemia.  The pet may require a transfusion to improve its clinical state while immunosuppressive treatments have time to work.  The clinician may elect to give whole blood, or more commonly packed red blood cells or synthetic hemoglobin (Oxyglobinc).

Pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots in the lungs) results when abnormal clotting arises from an activation of the clotting system due to inflammation and RBC destruction.  In pets with AIHA/IMHA, several factors, including the presence of hemolysis (RBC destruction), IV catheters, prednisone administration, and vascular stasis contribute to the increased clotting tendency of the blood in dogs with IMHA/AIHA.  If thromboembolism is suspected, the pet will be given doses of heparin (100-200 iu/kg of body weight 4x per day) and possibly oxygen to reduce the labored breathing.

Side Effects from the Drugs

Prednisone and other cortisone medications are catabolic substances; pets lose muscle mass and strength.  Additionally, these drugs cause increased thirst and urinations (PD/PU) by affecting kidney concentrating ability.  These drugs are potentially irritating (ulcerogenic) to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and can cause vomiting with or without GI bleeding.  Pancreatitis is another potential complication associated with cortisone and aziothioprine administration.

In some instances, the cytotoxic drugs can cause bone marrow failure.  As these drugs kill rapidly dividing cells, the development of decreased production of white blood cells can arise and open the pet up to life threatening infections.

When to Decrease Medications?

Typically about every 3-6 weeks, medications should be decreased by 25-50%.  Factors that are important in deciding treatment adjustments include trends in the hematocrit and resolution of clinical signs in the dog compared to prior examination.  Cocker spaniels tend to be weaned a little slower, and large pets may tend to be weaned over longer time periods because of the higher level of medications they were on.  Most pets should be off medications by one year and then be checked 3-4 times per year for the first year, and then yearly after that.

SUMMARY

AIHA/IMHA is a life threatening immune disease that can cause damage to vital organs through the lack of oxygen supply associated with the resultant anemia.  Owners of pets with AIHA/IMHA face a guarded to poor prognosis for the pet at the time of diagnosis.  If an underlying disease such as cancer is discovered--the prognosis becomes complicated by the limitations associated with the underlying cause as well.

Additionally, the destruction of RBC can result in development of blood clotting disorders and a systemic inflammation syndrome that looks like a severe infection clinically—the aftereffects of these can also cause organ damage to kidneys, lungs and other organs resulting in death or prolonged hospitalization.

This brochure was written with the wonderful help and support from Dr. Robert Murtaugh of Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital and Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.  The material in this brochure was written to use as an aide for others to learn about this terrible disease and its effect on their pet.  Thank you.     

 

Reference:

Dr. Robert J. Murtaugh, DACVIM, DACVECC is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Murtaugh was formerly on the faculty at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and is currently the Director of Critical Care at the Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland, Oregon.  Dr. Murtaugh chaired the organizing committee to establish the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).  He is a past-president (1994-1996) of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society and currently President-elect of ACVECC. 

Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski, DACVIM, DACVECC is a graduate of the University of Illinois.  She completed a residency in Emergency and Critical Care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently an Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Publications:

Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia and Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia, Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine—Client Information Series, Carol Norris, DVM, DACVIM.  Copyright 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company

Beau's Story :   http://home.comcast.net/~joan.ogg/beau.htm


Disease related web sites:    (click on these links for help!)

Disease Information:

Treatment Centers:

Research Foundations/Associations:

Support from others with experience:

Memorial Page:

This information is also available as a printed brochure.  If you would like a copy of this brochure please click on the link below to go to the AIHA file document page.

<<  Go to AIHA  Document File page  >>

Any questions? Send me an email =>

Copyright © 2005 Joan Ogg. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published and updated on:  04/26/2006 09:29 AM

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