Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia - report of three cases

Abstract

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common type of anemia in dogs and cats. The disease é most common in middle-aged female dogs, especially American Cocker Spaniel. The clinical signs are associated with severe anemia. There is no pathognomonic test for IMHA, but the presence of hemolytic anemia in a young adult or middle age, autoagglutination and spherocytosis or positive results of Coombs test, elimination of any other underlying cause of anemia and an appropriate response to immunosuppressive therapy are suggestive of it. The aim of the present paper is to report of three cases of serious IMHA, and highlighting the therapeutic modalities and prognosis associated with them.