2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Records from 171 dogs and 34 cats met inclusion criteria. Hemosiderin was reported in BAL cytology from 13/171 (7.6%) dogs and 18/34 (52.9%) cats (P < 0.001). Cats had a higher risk of BAL hemosiderosis than dogs (OR=7.5). Dogs that had a history of cancer were at higher risk for BAL hemosiderosis (OR=3.64). None of the other factors were associated with BAL hemosiderosis, except for prolonged BAL procedure in dogs (P = 0.044). An increased proportion of BAL eosinophils in cats was associated with absence of hemosiderin (P = 0.0463). Hemosiderin was identified in the BAL of 4/72 (5.5%) dogs with pneumonia, 6/56 (10.7%) dogs with bronchitis and 2/9 (22.2%) dogs with neoplasia. One of 16 non-diagnostic BAL samples in dogs contained hemosiderin. Hemosiderin was identified in the BAL of 4/6 (66.7%) cats with asthma, 7/12 (58.3%) cats with pneumonia, 5/12 (41.6%) cats with bronchitis and 2/4 cats (50%) with neoplasia. Hemosiderin was present in 2/6 (33.3%) dogs and 1/2 cats (50%) that underwent transthoracic fine needle aspiration prior to BAL.