Thromboelastographic evaluation of hemostatic function in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the hemostatic function by thromboelastography (TEG) and determine if there was an association between the changes in hemostatic parameters and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM was diagnosed by echocardiography in 19 dogs. Ten healthy dogs were selected as controls. Myocardial injury was confirmed by increased serum cTnI levels. Coagulation was assessed by TEG evaluating clot kinetics (reaction time [R] and kinetic time [K]), clot strengthening (alpha [a] angle and G value), platelet function (maximum amplitude [MA] and coagulation-index [CI]), clot stability (LY30, the percentage of lysis 30 min after MA), and global clotting times (activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT] and prothrombin time [PT]). Dogs with DCM had higher R and K times but lower MA, alpha-angle, G, and CI compared to controls (P < 0.05). LY30 and PT did not statistically differ between groups, but the aPTT in dogs with DCM was higher than that of the controls. Serum cTnI (median [range], ng/mL) was higher in dogs with DCM (0.25 [0.13-3.1]) than in healthy dogs (0.03 [0.01-0.06]). There was no statistical relation between cTnI and coagulation parameters. This study showed that alterations of the coagulation status in dogs with DCM could develop independently of serum cTnI elevations.