Research Communications of the 24th ECVIM-CA Congress

No conflicts of interest reported. During primary hyperfibrinogenolysis (PHF), FDPs production is increased but production of D-dimer is not. Therefore, elevated FDPs and normal D-dimer are considered an indicator of PHF. In humans and dogs, activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis develops in all type of ascites and it is associated with systemic PHF, suggesting that ascitis is inherently fibrinolytic. Preliminary data have shown that activation of coagulation followed by fibrinolysis occurs also in all type of pleural effusions (PE). The objective of this study was to determine if systemic PHF occurs also in dogs with PE. Thirty-three dogs referred to the San Marco Veterinary Clinic with PE, but without ascites, were studied (group 1). From the electronic data-base of the clinic dogs for inclusion in control groups 2 (healthy dogs) and 3 (sick dogs without PE or ascites) were randomly selected and individually matched to group 1 dogs for age, sex, and breed. Fibrinogen, FDPs, D-dimers, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen/CRP ratio, and prevalence of PHF (i.e., dogs with elevated plasma FDPs and normal D-dimer) were determined. Differences between the 3 groups were analyzed using ANOVA (fibrinogen), Chi-Square (FDPs and prevalence of PHF) and Kruskal-Wallis test (CRP, fibrinogen/CRP ratio, and D-dimer). Post-test analysis were performed by Tamhane and Mann-Whitney test. Fibrinogen concentration in group 1 was significantly increased compared to group 2 (p < 0.0001), but not compared to group 3 (p = 0.504). FDPs concentration in group 1 was significantly increased compared to groups 2 (p < 0.0001), but not compared to group 3 (p = 0.148). D-dimers concentration in group 1 was significantly increased compared to group 2 (p < 0.0001), but not compared to group 3 (p = 0.964). CRP was significantly increased in group 1 compared to group 2 and 3 (p < 0.0001 for both comparison). Fibrinogen/CRP ratio was significantly decreased in group 1 compared to group 2 and 3 (p < 0.0001 for both comparison). Prevalence of PHF was significantly higher in group 1 compared to groups 2 (p = 0.004), but not compared to group 3 (p = 0.186). These results support the hypothesis that PHF occurs significantly more often in dogs with PE compared to healthy dogs. Despite there was a trend of increased PHF also in dogs with PE compared to sick dogs, this difference did not reach significance. Nevertheless, the decreased in fibrinogen/CRP ratio in group 1 compared to group 3, in the face of a similar D-dimer concentration, would suggest that PHF is also more prevalent in dogs with PE compared to sick control dogs.