Background: Thrombocytopenia in dogs is common in critical care medicine, but availability of fresh platelet concentrates in veterinary medicine can be limiting. Lyophilized platelets have long shelf-lives and can be easily transported, stored, and administered in various settings.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel trehalose-stabilized canine lyophilized platelet product in thrombocytopenic dogs with clinically-evident bleeding.
Animals: Eighty-eight dogs with platelet counts <50 × 103 /μL and a standardized bleeding assessment tool (DOGiBAT) score ≥2.
Methods: Multicenter, randomized, non-blinded, non-inferiority clinical trial comparing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-stabilized cryopreserved platelet concentrates (CPP) with trehalose-stabilized lyophilized platelets (LP) for control of bleeding in thrombocytopenic dogs. Dogs were randomized to receive 3 × 109 platelets/kg of LP or CPP. Primary outcome measures were change in DOGiBAT score, platelet count, need for additional red cell transfusion and all-cause mortality.
Results: Fifty dogs received LP and 38 received CPP. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of both groups were comparable. At 1-hour post-transfusion, LP were superior for change in DOGiBAT score, and non-inferior at 24-hours post-transfusion. The LP were non-inferior to CPP for change in platelet count, need for additional red blood cell units, and survival to discharge. The LP were superior for change in hematocrit at 1-hour post-transfusion, and non-inferior at 24-hours. No adverse effects were noted in either group.
Conclusions and clinical importance: A novel trehalose-stabilized canine LP product appears to be logistically superior and is clinically non-inferior to DMSO-stabilized canine CPP for management of bleeding in thrombocytopenic dogs.
Keywords: canine; hemorrhage; immune thrombocytopenia; transfusion; trehalose.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.