Current diagnostic trends in coagulation disorders among dogs and cats

Abstract

The diagnostic workup to differentiate hemorrhage caused by vascular injury from a systemic hemostatic imbalance typically involves a combination of broad screening tests and specific assays. The characterization of 3 overlapping phases of primary hemostasis, secondary hemostasis, and fibrinolysis provides a simple diagnostic framework for evaluating patients with clinical signs of hemorrhage. New techniques such as flow cytometry, thrombin-generation assays, thrombelastography, and anticoagulant drug monitoring are under investigation for veterinary patients; however, their ability to improve diagnosis or treatment requires further study in clinical trials.

Keywords: Coagulopathy; Fibrinolysis; Hemorrhagic disorders; Hemostasis; Platelet aggregometry; Platelet function; Thrombelastography; Thrombin(IIa) generation.