Background: Thromboembolism is a commonly reported complication in dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). While antithrombotic therapy is recommended, there is little evidence comparing outcomes between protocols.
Hypothesis/
Objectives: Describe the frequency of suspicion of thromboembolic events and hemorrhagic complications and survival to discharge in dogs with non-associative IMHA receiving clopidogrel monotherapy versus dual therapy with clopidogrel and enoxaparin.
Animals: One hundred ten client-owned dogs with non-associative IMHA.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study of dogs with primary IMHA receiving clopidogrel alone and clopidogrel plus enoxaparin as antithrombotic therapy; baseline disease severity was assessed using the canine hemolytic anemia objective score (CHAOS) index.
Results: No significant differences were found in baseline demographics or CHAOS scores (p = 0.53). Suspicion of thromboembolism (19.0% vs 29.0%, p = 0.31), hemorrhagic complications (17.9% vs 16.1%, p = 1.0), and survival to discharge did not differ among the two groups for clopidogrel monotherapy (79.7%) and 74.2% for dual therapy (p = 0.61).
Conclusions: In this cohort, outcomes for dogs receiving clopidogrel monotherapy and dual therapy were statistically equivalent with regard to frequency of clinical suspicion of thromboembolism, risk of hemorrhagic complications, and survival to discharge despite similar CHAOS scores.
