Primary hemostatic function in dogs with acute kidney injury

Abstract Background Bleeding tendencies can occur with uremia. Objectives To characterize primary hemostatic function in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI). Animals Ten dogs with International Renal Interest Society AKI grade III or above and 10 healthy controls. Methods Prospective study comparing PCV, platelet count, platelet aggregometry (Multiplate), and von Willebrand factor antigen to collagen binding activity ratio (vWF:Ag:vWF:CBA) in 2 groups of dogs (AKI group versus controls). Buccal mucosal bleeding time was measured in the AKI group only. Data are presented as median [25th, 75th percentile] unless otherwise stated. Significance was set at P < .05. Results Mean PCV was significantly lower in the AKI (34.7%; ±SD, 8.8) than in the control (46.1%; ±SD, 3.6; P < .001) group. Platelet count was significantly higher in the AKI (350.5 × 103/μL [301, 516]) than in the control (241 × 103/μL [227, 251]; P = .01) group. Collagen‐activated platelet aggregometry measured as area under the curve was significantly lower in the AKI (36.9 ± 17.7) than in the control (54.9 ± 11.2; P = .05) group. vWF:Ag:vWF:CBA was significantly higher in the AKI (2.2 [1.9, 2.6]) than in the control (1.1 [1.1, 1.2]; P = .01) group. There was a strong correlation between vWF:Ag:vWF:CBA and creatinine (r = 0.859; P < .001), but no other variables. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with AKI had decreased collagen‐activated platelet aggregation and appear to have a type II von Willebrand disease‐like phenotype as indicated by the high vWF:Ag:vWF:CBA.