Background: Dogs with primary brain tumors typically have chronic progressive clinical signs, but some dogs unexpectedly decline suddenly. It is currently unknown if dogs with primary brain tumors experience hemostatic derangements that may contribute to cerebrovascular events. Dogs can be screened for hemostatic disorders using thromboelastography (TEG). Hypothesis: Dogs with suspected primary brain tumors will have one or more of the following TEG alterations suggestive of hypercoagulability compared to healthy dogs: Shortened R, shortened K, increased alpha angle, and increased MA. Animals: Seven dogs with primary brain tumors and 40 healthy adult dogs that were enrolled in a separate study from a hospital population.
Methods: Prospective observational study. Thromboelastography will be performed on all dogs using the Haemonetics TEG 6s. Dogs will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor if they have clinical signs and exam findings suggestive of intracranial disease and brain MRI results consistent with a primary brain tumor. Healthy adult dogs were enrolled in a separate study. Statistical analysis will compare the median of TEG parameters of dogs with primary brain tumors to healthy control dogs using a Wilcoxon rank sum test.
Results: Preliminary results reveal that dogs with primary brain tumors (n = 7) have a prolonged R value compared to healthy dogs (P = 0.0107). Other TEG parameters (K, alpha angle and MA) do not differ between groups. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs with primary brain tumors have TEG features suggestive of hypocoagulability.
