Hypercoagulability in dogs with chronic enteropathy and association with serum albumin concentration

Abstract Background Dogs with protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE) are at risk of developing a hypercoagulable state, but the prevalence of hypercoagulability in dogs with chronic enteropathies (CE) and normal serum albumin concentration is unknown. Hypothesis Dogs with CE are predisposed to a hypercoagulable state as assessed by thromboelastography (TEG) independent of serum albumin concentration. Methods Dogs with chronic gastrointestinal signs from suspected inflammatory CE between 2017 and 2019 were included. Thirty‐eight were evaluated; every dog had a CBC, serum biochemistry panel, and abdominal imaging performed. The Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) was calculated. Thromboelastography was performed at presentation, and reaction time (R), kinetic time (K), α‐angle, maximal amplitude (MA), and global clot strength (G) were recorded. Dogs were considered hypercoagulable if the G value was ≥25% above the reference interval. Results Seventeen of 38 (44.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 28.6‐61.7%) dogs with CE were hypercoagulable. The G value did not differ between the 19 dogs with normal (≥28 g/L) serum albumin concentrations (9.05 kdyn/cm2; 95% CI, 7.26‐10.84; SD 3.71) and 19 dogs with hypoalbuminemia (11.3 kdyn/cm2; 95% CI, 9.04‐13.6, SD; 4.7; P = .11). The G value was negatively correlated with hematocrit, serum albumin concentration, and duration of signs and positively correlated with age. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with CE and normal serum albumin concentration can be hypercoagulable as measured by TEG.