Immunemediated Thrombocytopenia in Dogs and Cats. Trombocitopenia Immunomediata Del Cane e Del Gatto.

Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (FTP) is the most common acquired disorder of primary hemo stasis in dogs and affects cats too. Thanks to the FTP human knowledge, the understanding of its pathogenesis in veterinary medicine is rapidly improving. ITP has previously been considered an antibody-mediated disease, but today it is known that it is rather a complex and heterogeneous syndrome resultingfrom a combination of humoral and cell-mediated destruction of platelets in the blood and the destruction of their precursors, the megakaryocytes, in the bone marrow. The resulting thrombocytopenia leads to variable clinical signs, ranging from the absence of symptoms to severe mucocutaneous bleeding diathesis. Modern treatment strategies should aim to restore an adequate platelet count to support hemostasis, rather than obtaining a "normal" platelet count. Panels of experts are currently working on the definition of shared therapeutic guidelines. First-line therapy involves the use of immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids combined, when necessary, with second-line immunosuppressive drugs, with vincristine and/or immunoglobulins in the most critically ill subjects. The best therapy approach should be evaluated according to the severity of the patients clinical condition, to balance the risk of bleeding with the risks connected with the immunosuppression.