Open AccessThe Presence of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs
Author(s) -
Nielsen L.N.,
Wiinberg B.,
KjelgaardHansen M.,
Kristensen A.T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00823.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lupus anticoagulant , antiphospholipid syndrome , antibody , partial thromboplastin time , systemic lupus erythematosus , immunology , gastroenterology , coagulation , disease
Background The role of antiphospholipid antibodies in the prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (a PTT ) previously identified in healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs remains unknown. In people, an isolated prolonged a PTT without evidence of bleeding might be because of a thrombophilic condition caused by antiphospholipid antibodies. Objective To examine if prolonged a PTT in healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs is because of antiphospholipid antibodies. Animals Twenty‐two healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs and 10 healthy adult dogs of various breeds. Methods Prospective case control study. Healthy B ernese M outain D ogs were examined twice over 6 months. Dogs were investigated for the presence of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies by the use of multiple a PTT tests with low and high lupus anticoagulant sensitivities, a mixing study, and an ELISA test for aCL antibody optical density to detect solid phase antiphospholipid antibodies. Results In all, 15 of 22 healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs were positive for lupus anticoagulants. The B ernese M ountain D ogs had markedly higher levels of aCL antibodies compared with the control dogs ( P = .006). In all, 7 of 21 of the B ernese M ountain D ogs were positive for both lupus anticoagulants and aCL antibodies, whereas 4 of 21 B ernese M ountain D ogs were negative for both. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Lupus anticoagulants and aCL antibodies could be the cause of prolonged a PTT in healthy B ernese M ountain D ogs. The importance of the antiphospholipid antibodies in the dogs remains unknown.