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A case of fatal anaphylaxis in a dog associated with a dexamethasone suppression test
Author(s) -
Schaer Michael,
Ginn Pamela E.,
Hanel Rita M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/j.1534-6935.2004.00bmi.x-i1
Subject(s) - medicine , dexamethasone , anaphylaxis , dexamethasone suppression test , anesthesia , shock (circulatory) , provocation test , allergy , surgery , immunology , pathology , alternative medicine
Objective: To describe a case of fatal anaphylaxis in a dog associated with a ‘routine’ dexamethasone suppression test. Case summary: An 8‐year‐old, spayed female dog, was treated with parenteral dexamethasone for a diagnosis of immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia. The dog had responded to treatment, but 9 months later was evaluated for endogenous hyperadrenocorticism, prior to surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. A normal ACTH stimulation test was followed by a high‐dose dexamethasone suppression test. Immediately following the intravenous injection of dexamethasone, the dog developed severe anaphylactic shock and died. The postmortem examination findings supported the diagnosis of anaphylaxis. New information provided: The anaphylaxis in this dog was fulminating and by‐passed the usual early signs of drug hypersensitivity. This is the first case in the veterinary literature reporting on dexamethasone as the cause of this dog's catastrophic event.