Transfusion Triggers and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Group of Dogs That Underwent Whole Blood Therapy

Whole blood transfusion therapy was performed on a group of 27 canine patients. Hematological tests were performed in potential donors and patients, with an automatic analyzer and through DiaQiuck stained blood smears. Transfusion compatibility was established through 16 blood typing tests, using the tube agglutination test (SHIGETA kits), as well as CARD and ALVEDIA tests (DEA 1.1 kits) and 33 Crossmatch tests. The mean volume of the transfused whole blood was 7.5 mL/kg bodyweight. The majority of patient-donor pairs were confirmed as compatible through negative major Crossmatch and through blood typing tests. From 33 Crossmatch tests, 8 (24%) were incompatible in major Crossmatch. Most of the patients were suffering from lymphoma or renal failure. In case of 3 DEA 1.1 positive patients who received emergency blood transfusions without any prior compatibility testing, no side-effects were recorded. The majority of the patients presented a good evolution after the first transfusion, The statistical analysis of the red blood cells count and hemoglobin concentration showed significant post-transfusion increase (p=0.0010 and p=0.0067), and extremely significant increase of the hematocrit value (p< 0.0001). In conclusion, the transfusion was well tolerated, except for 4 patients who presented immediate transfusion reactions with mild consequences (tachycardia, myoclonus and hyperthermia). After the blood transfusion therapy, 18 (66.6%) patients clinically recovered and 9 (33.3%) died from severe clinical complications, without presenting any adverse transfusion reactions.