A retrospective study of 180 anaemic cats: features,aetiologies and survival data

Abstract

The study comprised 180 anaemic cats. Descriptive and survival data were obtained. Cats were classified by aetiology of anaemia development and degenerative, anomalous, metabolic, miscellaneous, neoplastic, infectious, inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxic, traumatic or vascular disease (DAMNITV) classification and anaemia severity. Sixty-four (35.6%) cats had mild [packed cell volume (PCV)/haematocrit (HCT) 20–24.9%], 58 (32.2%) moderate (14–19.9%), 23 (12.8%) severe (11–13.9%) and 35 (19.4%) very severe (<10.9%) anaemia. By aetiology of anaemia development, bone marrow (BM) abnormalities were more common (95, 52.8%) than haemorrhage (37, 20.6%) or haemolysis (19, 10.6%). By DAMNITV classification, infectious diseases were more common (39, 21.7%) than neoplasia (36, 20%), metabolic (21, 11.7%), trauma (15, 8.3%), miscellaneous (14, 7.8%), inflammatory (11, 6.1%), immune-mediated (11, 6.1%), anomalous (8, 4.4%), toxic (2, 1.1%) or vascular disease (1, 0.6%). BM abnormalities were significantly associated with more severe anaemia (P = 0.003). Most cats (112, 62.2%) survived to discharge whereas 55 (30.6%) were euthanased and 13 (7.2%) died. Survival to discharge was not associated with anaemia severity but was associated significantly with aetiology of anaemia development (P = 0.046), as cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive to discharge than cats with BM abnormalities. Survival to discharge was also associated significantly with DAMNITV classification (P = 0.010), with cats with neoplasia being less likely, and cats with immune-mediated disease more likely, to survive to discharge. Cox regression analysis found that survival was not associated with anaemia severity, but was associated with DAMNITV classification (P = 0.011) and age (P = 0.082), with cats with immune-mediated disease and younger cats more likely to survive.

Introduction

Feline anaemia is common, developing as a result of haemorrhage, haemolysis or decreased bone marrow red blood cell (RBC) production. Previous feline studies have focused on specific causes of anaemia, for example, anaemia of inflammatory disease¹ and primary immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)², or have described the occurrence of different causes of anaemia in specific groups of cats, for example, a study assessing cardiac changes in 15 anaemic cats found IMHA and renal insufficiency to be most common,³ while four other studies, evaluating transfusion product use, found haemorrhage to be most common.^4–7 To our knowledge, no large retrospective studies exist describing features, aetiology or survival in anaemic cats.

Our study aimed to describe signalment, historical and physical examination findings in a large group of anaemic cats, and describe survival data.

Materials and methods

Case selection

Medical records of all anaemic cats admitted to The Feline Centre, Langford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol between January 2002 and January 2009 were retrieved; cats were defined as anaemic if packed cell volume (PCV) or haematocrit (HCT) was <25% (laboratory reference interval 25–45%) or <24%⁸ for cats younger than 1 year of age. For inclusion, cases required complete medical records (ie University of Bristol case reports and hospital records for every patient; clinicopathology results where performed) and must not have received blood products before admission.

Data recording

Medical records were evaluated for signalment (age, breed, gender) and searched for common historical findings (eg, inappetence, weakness, pica) and physical examination findings (eg, pallor, heart murmur, jaundice, pyrexia, abdominal pain), which were then recorded. Haematological data at presentation were recorded; HCT, RBC count, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean cell volume, mean cell Hb, mean cell Hb concentration and platelet count. PCV was recorded if HCT was not available (usually in cats presented out of hours). Anaemia severity was classified, based on HCT or PCV, as mild (20–24.9%), moderate (14–19.9%), severe (11–13.9%) or very severe (<10.9%). Aggregate reticulocyte counts, when performed, were used to classify the anaemia as non-regenerative (<0.015 × 10¹²/l), weakly regenerative (0.016–0.05 × 10¹²/l), moderately regenerative (0.06–0.19 × 10¹²/l) or strongly regenerative (>0.2 × 10¹²/l).⁹ White blood cell (WBC) count, WBC differential counts, platelet count and any abnormalities [polychromasia, anisocytosis, acanthocytes, agglutination, elliptocytes, hypochromasia, Heinz bodies (HB) numbers and percentages, nucleated RBCs, macrocytosis, microcytosis, schistocytes and toxic neutrophils], detected on a Wright’s stained blood smear, were recorded as absent, slight, mild, moderate or severe.⁹

Test results for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), haemoplasma (three species) infection and other clinicopathological data [prothrombin time (PT),¹⁰ activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT),¹⁰ Coombs’ test,¹¹ bone marrow (BM) aspirate and core biopsy results and post-mortem findings] were recorded when performed.

Survival data

Survival data were obtained by recording whether the cat survived to discharge, was euthanased or died. For those surviving to discharge, the referring veterinary surgeon was contacted and the date of death recorded, if known, or the date the cat was last known to be alive. Cause of death was not recorded as this had not usually been determined or documented. Survival time was calculated as the number of weeks from discharge.

Case classifications

Case records were reviewed by two board-certified internal medicine clinicians (ST and AH) and classified by the aetiology of anaemia development in each case as either anaemia due to a BM abnormality, haemorrhage or haemolysis. If more than one aetiology was present, the major cause of anaemia was recorded. Cases with anaemia due to a BM abnormality were further subdivided into primary BM disease or secondary suppression of BM activity, ie neoplasia-associated (eg, lymphoma), renal insufficiency-associated, infectious-inflammatory or miscellaneous causes of BM suppression. Each case was also classified separately according to the degenerative, anomalous, metabolic, miscellaneous, neoplastic, infectious, inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxic, traumatic or vascular disease (DAMNITV) classification system¹² based on the definitive diagnosis reached for the primary disease process. This system has been used previously for categorisation in feline studies.¹² If cases could not be ascribed confidently to a particular aetiology of anaemia development or DAMNITV classification, they were left unclassified.

Data analysis

All data were entered, validated and explored in a database (Excel 2008; Microsoft), and exported into statistics software (SPSS, version 18.0, Woking) for further analysis.

Descriptive data

Continuous variables were evaluated for normality using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov Z test. Data were expressed as mean (± SD) if normally distributed and median (range) if not normally distributed. Aetiology of anaemia development and DAMNITV classification were explored according to anaemia severity, and selected clinical and laboratory features.

Statistical analysis

Pearson χ² (exact test) was used to test for association between the following categorical variables: anaemia severity, aetiology of anaemia development, DAMNITV classification and survival to discharge. P <0.05 indicated significance.

Cox regression analysis was performed to examine variables (age, breed, gender, historical and physical examination findings, regenerative response, haematological data, retrovirus and haemoplasma infection status, coagulation times, Coombs’ testing, anaemia severity, aetiology of anaemia development and DAMNITV classification) possibly associated with survival time. Owing to small numbers in some DAMNITV groups, cats with anomalous, toxic, vascular and miscellaneous diseases were grouped together to increase statistical power in the Cox regression. Multivariable modelling of survival time was performed using variables with a P-value of <0.1 on bivariable analysis as a starting point for model building; P ≤ 0.05 was a requirement for variables to be retained in the final model. Cats lost to follow-up were treated as censored.

Results

Cases

Data retrieval identified 348 cats. Exclusion of 168 cases occurred; three were not anaemic by age-defined reference intervals, three had received blood products before admission and 162 had incomplete medical records. Thus, 180 cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results presented are percentages based on 180 cats unless otherwise specified.

Descriptive data

Ages ranged from 0.3 to 15 years (median 5 years). Non-pedigree cats were most common (125, 69.4%), while 55 (30.6%) were pedigree, with Persians, Siamese (both 10, 5.6%) and Birmans (eight, 4.4%) most common. Neutered males were most frequent (95, 52.8%), followed by neutered females (65, 36.1%), entire males (12, 6.7%) and entire females (eight, 4.4%).

Lethargy (118, 65.6%), inappetence (87, 48.3%) and pallor (86, 47.8%) were common. Weakness and a heart murmur were each present in 54 (30%) cats. Jaundice was present in 30 (16.7%), pyrexia in 24 (13.3%), abdominal pain in 11 (6.1%), and pica in seven (3.9%) cats.

Descriptive data for continuous haematological parameters are shown in Table 1. Anaemia was commonly mild (64, 35.6%) or moderate (58, 32.2%), and, less frequently, very severe (35, 19.4%) or severe (23, 12.8%). Platelet counts were normal in 139 (77.2%) cats, elevated in 11 (6.1%) and reduced in 15 (8.3%) cats. Platelet counts were not performed in 15 (8.4%) cats. Cats with thrombocytopenia had 3.92 (± 3.23) platelets visible per × 1000 high power field. A peripheral blood smear was examined for morphological cell changes in 164 cats. Polychromasia was seen in 72/164 (43.9%) cats, anisocytosis in 100/164 (60.9%), microscopic agglutination in 18/164 (11%), hypochromasia in 5/164 (3%), macrocytosis in 31/164 (18.9%), microcytosis in 16/164 (9.8%), acanthocytes in 12/164 (7.3%), elliptocytes in 9/164 (5.5%), HBs in 7/164 (4.3%) and schistocytes in 6/164 (3.7%) cats. Toxic neutrophils were identified in 18/164 (11%) cats.

Table 1

Descriptive data for continuous haematological parameters of all cases

Parameter (units)	Number of cats	Mean (± SD) or median (range)	Reference interval
HCT or PCV (%)	180	16.83 (± 5.29)	25–45
Red blood cell count (×10¹²/l)	164	3.47 (0–8)	5.5–10
Mean corpuscular volume (fl)	164	50.45 (35–85)	40–55
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (pg)	164	15.95 (11–35)	12.5–17
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (g/dl)	164	31.4 (26–54)	30–35
Haemoglobin (g/dl)	163	5.42 (±1.85)	8–15
White blood cell count (×10⁹/l)	165	12.8 (1–123)	4.9–19
Neutrophil count (×10⁹/l)	165	9.23 (0–113)	2.4–12.5
Lymphocyte count (×10⁹/l)	165	1.21 (0–15)	1.4–6
Monocyte count (×10⁹/l)	165	0.44 (0–7)	0.1–0.7
Eosinophil count (×10⁹/l)	165	0.08 (0–2)	0.1–1.6
Basophil count (×10⁹/l)	165	0 (0–6)	0–0.1
Nucleated red blood cell count (×10⁹/l)	156	2.41 (± 9.48)	0
Aggregate reticulocytes (×10¹²/l)*	88	13.43 (0–0.74)
Atypical white blood cells (×10⁹/l)	10	1.19 (±1.92)	0

Aggregate reticulocyte counts classified 31/88 (35.2%) cats as non-regenerative, 17/88 (19.3%) weakly regenerative, 19/88 (21.6%) moderately regenerative and 21/88 (23.9%) as strongly regenerative

HCT = haematocrit, PCV = packed cell volume

FIV infection was tested for in 147 cats and was positive in 7/147 (4.8%). FeLV infection was tested for in 148 cats and was positive in 6/148 (4.1%). Haemoplasma polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed in 77 (42.8%) cats, with positive results in 6/77 (7.8%) cats: Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum in three cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis in two cats and one cat had dual infection.

The aPTT and PT were measured in 44 (24.4%) cats and were abnormal (prolonged; either aPTT or PT alone or both) in 18/44 (40.9%). Coombs’ testing was performed in 25 (13.9%) cats and was positive in 9/25 (36%) cats. BM aspirate and biopsy were performed in 30 (16.6%) cats and post-mortem examination in 25 (13.9%) cats.

Aetiology of anaemia development was classified as a BM abnormality in 95 (52.8%) cats, haemorrhage in 37 (20.6%) and haemolysis in 19 (10.6%), while 29 (16.1%) could not be classified (Table 2). DAMNITV classification (Table 3) found infectious causes of anaemia (39, 21.7%) to be most common, for example feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) (17/39, 43.6%), FeLV (5/39, 12.8%), FIV (4/39, 10.3%), combined FIV and Haemoplasma species (2/39, 5.1%), followed by neoplasia (36, 20%), for example, lymphoma (9/36, 25%), then metabolic (21, 11.7%), trauma (15, 8.3%), miscellaneous (14, 7.8%), inflammatory (11, 6.1%), immune-mediated (11, 6.1%), anomalous (8, 4.4%), toxic (two, 1.1%) and vascular (one, 0.6%) diseases. DAMNITV classification was not possible in 22 (12.2%) cats. Commonly-diagnosed diseases are described in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2

Anaemia severity and aetiology of anaemia development

Aetiology of anaemia development	Mild anaemia(HCT/PCV 20–24.9%)	Moderate anaemia(HCT/PCV 14–19.9%)	Severe anaemia(HCT/PCV 11–13.9%)	Very severe anaemia (HCT/PCV <10%)	Total number of cats
Bone marrow abnormality	44, 24.4%	23, 12.8%	9, 5%	19, 10.5%	95, 52.7%
Infectious inflammatory disease-associated bone marrow suppression, eg, FIP (17/48, 35.4%), FeLV infection (4/48, 8.3%), FIV infection (3/48, 6.3%)	25/48 (52.1%)	15/48 (31.3%)	4/48 (8.3%)	4/48 (8.3%)	48/95 (50.5%)
Primary bone marrow disease, eg, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease (7/25, 28%), lymphoproliferative neoplasia (5/25, 20%) (eg, acute leukaemia), pure red cell aplasia (5/25, 20%)	4/25 (16%)	3/25 (12%)	4/25 (16%)	14/25 (56%)	25/95 (26.3%)
Renal insufficiency-associated bone marrow suppression, eg, chronic kidney insufficiency (4/13, 30.8%), glomerulonephropathy (3/13, 23.1%), acute on chronic kidney insufficiency (2/13, 15.4%), renal lymphoma (2/13, 15.4%)	9/13 (69.2%)	4/13 (30.8%)	0	0	13/95 (13.7%)
Neoplasia-associated bone marrow suppression, eg, multicentric lymphoma (3/8, 37.5%)	6/8 (33.3%)	1/8 (12.5%)	1/8 (12.5%)	0	8/95 (8.4%)
Miscellaneous causes of bone marrow suppression, eg, non-regenerative IMHA with coagulopathy and suspected underlying neoplasia (1/1, 100%)	0	0	0	1/1 (100%)	1/95 (1.1%)
Haemorrhage, eg, trauma (15/37, 40.5%), bleeding neoplastic lesion (7/37, 18.9%), gastrointestinal haemorrhage (6/37, 16.2%), coagulopathy (6/37, 16.2%)	10, 5.6%	13, 7.2%	7, 3.9%	7, 3.9%	37, 20.6%
Haemolysis, eg, IMHA (7/19, 36.8%), haemoplasma infection (3/19, 15.8%), hepatic lipidosis-associated haemolysis (3/19, 15.8%), pyruvate kinase deficiency (3/19, 15.8%)	1, 0.6%	12, 6.7%	4, 2.2%	2, 1.1%	19, 10.6%
Unclassified	9, 5%	10, 5.6%	3, 1.7%	7, 3.9%	29, 16.1%
Total number of cats	64, 35.6%	58, 32.2%	23, 12.8%	35, 19.5%	180, 100%

Values show number of cats, while all percentages reflect values of 180 cats. Percentages listed in brackets reflect percentages of cats within specified groups

The most commonly diagnosed diseases in each category are listed as examples

FIP = feline infectious peritonitis, FeLV = feline leukaemia virus, FIV = feline immunodeficiency virus, IMHA = immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, HCT = haematocrit, PCV = packed cell volume

Table 3

Anaemia severity and DAMNITV classification

DAMNITV classification	Mild anaemia(HCT/PCV 20–24.9%)	Moderate anaemia(HCT/PCV 14–19.9%)	Severe anaemia(HCT/PCV 11–13.9%)	Very severe anaemia (HCT/PCV <10%)	Total number of cats
Anomalous, eg, hereditary coagulopathy (2/8, 25%), portovascular anomaly (2/8, 25%)	1, 0.6%	3, 1.7%	2, 1.1%	2, 1.1%	8, 4.4%
Metabolic, eg, chronic kidney insufficiency (4/21, 19%), hepatic lipidosis (4/21, 19%), acute on chronic kidney insufficiency (2/21, 9.5%)	12, 6.7%	8, 4.4%	1, 0.6%	0	21, 11.7%
Miscellaneous, eg, pure red cell aplasia not attributed to immune-mediated disease (3/14, 21.4%), aplastic anaemia (2/14, 14.3%)	4, 2.2%	2, 1.1%	4, 2.2%	4, 2.2%	14, 7.8%
Neoplastic, eg, lymphoma (9/36, 25%), carcinoma (3/36, 8.3%), haemangiosarcoma (2/36, 5.6%)	16, 8.9%	10, 5.6%	3, 1.6%	7, 3.9%	36, 20%
Infectious, eg, FIP (17/39, 43.6%), FeLV (5/39, 12.8%), FIV (4/39, 10.3%), combined FIV and Haemoplasma species (2/39, 5.1%)	13, 7.2%	15, 8.3%	5, 2.8%	6, 3.3%	39, 21.7%
Inflammation, eg, gastroduodenal ulceration associated with inflammatory bowel disease (2/11, 18.2%)	7, 3.9%	2, 1.1%	1, 0.6%	1, 0.6%	11, 6.1%
Immune-mediated, eg, IMHA (8/11, 72.7%)	0	5, 2.8%	2, 1.1%	4, 2.2%	11, 6.1%
Toxic, eg, rodenticide toxicity (2/2, 100%)	0	2, 1.1%	0	0	2, 1.1%
Traumatic, eg, road traffic accident (11/15, 73.3%, dog attack (2/15, 13.3%)	6, 3.3%	5, 2.8%	2, 1.1%	2, 1.1%	15, 8.3%
Vascular, eg, dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (1/1, 100%)	1, 0.6%	0	0	0	1, 0.6%
Unclassified	4, 2.2%	6, 3.3%	3, 1.7%	9, 5%	22, 12.2%
Total number of cats	64, 35.6%	58, 32.2%	23, 12.8%	35, 19.4%	180, 100% (100%)

Values show number of cats, while all percentages reflect values of 180 cats, unless otherwise specified

The most commonly diagnosed diseases in each category are listed as examples

FIP = feline infectious peritonitis, FeLV = feline leukaemia virus, FIV = feline immunodeficiency virus, IMHA = immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, HCT = haematocrit, PCV = packed cell volume

Anaemia severity, according to aetiology of anaemia development and further BM abnormalities determined is shown in Table 2 and according to each DAMNITV classification in Table 3. Further descriptions of aetiology of anaemia development and DAMNITV classifications for selected clinical and laboratory features are shown in Table 4. Abnormal clotting times were uncommon, found in only 10% of cats and seen with haemorrhage by aetiology of anaemia development or neoplasia, by DAMNITV categorisation. Anaemia due to a coagulopathy was only identified in four cats, including one cat diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation and two cats with rodenticide toxicity.

Table 4

Further descriptions of the aetiology of anaemia development and DAMNITV classifications for selected clinical and laboratory features

Clinical or laboratory feature	Frequency within aetiology of anaemia development	Frequency within DAMNITV classification
Pica7, 3.9%	3/7, 42.8% BM abnormalities2/7, 28.6% Haemolysis1/7, 14.2% Haemorrhage1/7, 14.2% Unclassified	4/7, 57.1% Immune-mediated2/7, 28.6% Neoplasia1/7, 14.2% Metabolic
Jaundice30, 16.7%	11/24, 36.7% BM abnormalities9/24, 30% Haemolysis4/24, 13.3% Haemorrhage	4/22, 18.2% Metabolic4/22, 18.2% Neoplasia4/22, 18.2% Infectious3/22, 13.6% Anomalous3/22, 13.6% Inflammatory2/22, 9.1% Immune-mediated1/22, 4.5% Vascular1/22, 4.5% Traumatic
Pyrexia24, 13.3%	14/18, 77.8% BM abnormalities4/18, 22.2% Haemolysis	10/19, 53.6% Infectious6/19, 31.6% Neoplasia2/19, 10.5% Immune-mediated1/19, 5.3% Anomalous
Thrombocytopenia15, 8.3%	12/15, 80% BM abnormalities2/15, 13.3% Haemorrhage1/15, 6.7% Haemolysis	6/14, 42.9% Infectious5/14, 35.7% Neoplasia2/14, 14.3% Miscellaneous1/14, 7.1% Trauma
Increased number of HB7, 3.9%	2/4, 50% BM abnormalities2/4, 50% Haemolysis	2/6, 33.3% Neoplasia1/6, 16.7% Anomalous1/6, 16.7% Metabolic1/6, 16.7% Immune-mediated1/6, 16.7% Miscellaneous
Agglutination18, 10%	9/18, 50% BM abnormalities6/18, 33.3% Haemolysis	7/15, 46.7% Infectious5/15, 33.3% Immune-mediated1/15, 6.7% Miscellaneous1/15, 6.7% Metabolic1/15, 6.7% Neoplasia
Macrocytosis31, 17.2%	17/26, 65.3% BM abnormalities5/26, 19.2% Haemolysis4/26, 15.4% Haemorrhage	10/26, 38.5% Neoplasia6/26, 23.1% Immune-mediated3/26, 11.5% Metabolic2/26, 7.7% Inflammatory1/26, 3.8% Anomalous1/26, 3.8% Infectious1/26, 3.8% Miscellaneous1/26, 3.8% Toxic1/26, 3.8% Trauma
Microcytosis16, 8.9%	7/13, 53.8% BM abnormalities3/13, 23.1% Haemolysis3/13, 23.1% Haemorrhage	4/15, 26.7% Metabolic4/15, 26.7% Neoplastic4/15, 26.7% Infectious1/15, 6.7% Anomalous1/15, 6.7% Trauma1/15, 6.7% Toxic
Microcytosis and hypochromasia2, 1.1%	2/2, 100% BM abnormalities	2/2, 100% Infectious
Acanthocytes12, 6.7%	8/11, 72.7% BM abnormalities3/11, 27.3% Haemorrhage	4/10, 40% Neoplasia1/10, 10% Anomalous1/10, 10% Metabolic1/10, 10% Infectious1/10, 10% Inflammatory1/10, 10% Trauma1/10, 10% Miscellaneous
Schistocytes6, 3.3%	3/4, 75% BM abnormalities1/4, 25% Haemorrhage	2/6, 33.3% Metabolic1/6, 16.7% Anomalous1/6, 16.7% Neoplasia1/6, 16.7% Trauma1/6, 16.7% Miscellaneous
Toxic neutrophils18, 10%	11/16, 68.8% BM abnormalities3/16, 18.8% Haemorrhage2/16, 12.5% Haemolysis	6/16, 37.5% Infectious3/16, 18.8% Neoplasia2/16, 12.5% Anomalous1/16, 6.3% Metabolic1/16, 6.3% Inflammatory1/16, 6.3% Immune-mediated1/16, 6.3% Miscellaneous1/16, 6.3% Toxic
Prolonged aPTT and PT10, 5.6%	5/10, 50% Haemorrhage3/10, 30% BM abnormalities2/10, 20% Haemolysis	4/9, 44.4% Neoplasia2/9, 22.2% Anomalous1/9, 11.1% Metabolic1/9, 11.1% Miscellaneous1/9, 11.1% Toxic
Coombs’ testing positivity9, 5%	6/9, 66.7% Haemolysis3/9, 33.3% BM abnormalities	7/9, 77.8% Immune-mediated2/9, 22.2% Infectious

Values show number of cats, while all percentages reflect values of 180 cats, unless otherwise specified

HB = Heinz body, aPTT = activated partial thromboplastin time, PT = prothrombin time, BM = bone marrow

Statistical analysis

Anaemia severity was significantly associated with aetiology of anaemia development (χ² = 19.9, P = 0.003). When BM abnormalities were removed from this analysis, the significant association was no longer present (χ² = 5.815, P = 0.12), confirming that BM abnormalities were associated significantly with more severe anaemia. Anaemia severity was not associated significantly with DAMNITV classification (χ² = 33.852, P = 0.153).

Most cats (112, 62.2%) survived to discharge, 55 (30.6%) were euthanased and 13 (7.2%) died. Anaemia severity was not associated significantly with survival to discharge (χ² = 4.15, P = 0.248), whereas aetiology of anaemia development was (χ² = 6.070, P = 0.046) with 54/95 (56.8%) cats with BM abnormalities, 26/37 (70.3%) cats with haemorrhage and 16/19 (84.5%) cats with haemolysis surviving to discharge. Significance was lost if BM abnormalities (χ² = 1.301, P = 0.338) or haemolytic disorders (χ² = 2.011, P = 0.171) were removed from statistical analysis, but not if haemorrhagic disorders were removed (χ² = 17.22, P = 0.01), indicating that cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive to discharge than cats with BM abnormalities. DAMNITV classification was also associated significantly with survival to discharge (χ² = 19.998, P = 0.010); all cats with immune-mediated disease, both cats with toxic and the one cat with vascular disease, 12/15 (80%) cats with trauma, 11/14 (78.6%) cats with miscellaneous disease, 8/11 (72.7%) cats with inflammatory disease, 24/39 (61.5%) cats with infectious disease, 12/21 (57.1%) cats with metabolic disease and 4/8 (50%) cats with anomalous diseases surviving to discharge. Significance was lost if neoplastic disorders (χ² = 11.671, P = 0.152) or immune-mediated disease (χ² = 12.781, P = 0.102) were removed, suggesting that cats with neoplasia were less likely to survive and cats with immune-mediated disease were more likely to survive to discharge.

Cox regression analysis showed that the most parsimonious model included only DAMNITV classification (P = 0.011) and age (P = 0.082) (Table 5). Cats with trauma had shorter survival times, followed by cats with neoplastic, metabolic or infectious disease. Younger cats had longer survival times. A closely competing model included aetiology of anaemia development and age (Table 6). Here, cats with BM abnormalities had shorter survival times compared with anaemia due to haemolysis or haemorrhage. The estimated effect of age was similar to that found in the DAMNITV model. In addition to these models, when all possible predictor variables were tested in isolation (as sole predictor), cats with elevated neutrophil (P = 0.043) or elevated monocyte counts (P = 0.029) had shorter survival times.

Table 5

Significant variables identified in the most parsimonious Cox regression analysis model for the prediction of cats with anaemia

Variable	Parameter estimate (β)(standard error)	P	Exp (B)(95% confidence interval)
DAMNITV category*		0.011
Metabolic	0.094 (0.302)	0.757	1.098 (0.608–1.983)
Neoplastic	−0.054 (0.309)	0.861	0.947 (0.517–1.735)
Infectious	−1.283 (0.560)	0.022	0.277 (0.093–0.830)
Inflammatory	−1.279 (0.563)	0.023	0.278 (0.092–0.839)
Immune-mediated	−0.928 (0.482)	0.054	0.395 (0.154–1.018)
Trauma	−0.443 (0.351)	0.206	0.642 (0.323–1.276)
Anomalous, toxic, miscellaneous and vascular	–	–	–
Age (years)	0.045 (0.026)	0.082	1.046 (0.994–1.100)

Owing to the small numbers in some DAMNITV groups, cats with anomalous, toxic, vascular and miscellaneous diseases were considered one group to increase statistical power

Table 6

Significant variables identified in a closely competing Cox regression analysis model for prediction of survival time in cats with anaemia

Variable	Parameter estimate (β)(standard error)	P	Exp (B)(95% confidence interval)
Aetiology of anaemia development		0.018
Haemolysis	−0.882	0.013	0.414 (0.206–0.832)
Haemorrhage	−0.499	0.046	0.607 (0.372–0.991)
Bone marrow abnormalities	−	−	−
Age (years)	0.061	0.018	1.063 (1.010–1.119)

Discussion

This study describes the historical and physical examination findings, haematological data and causes of anaemia in a large group of anaemic cats. The effect of anaemia severity and cause on survival was also determined.

Clinical signs associated with anaemia in this population were vague and non-specific. Pica was very uncommon, seen in only 3.9% of cats and associated predominantly with immune-mediated disease and was not associated significantly with anaemia severity (data not shown). An association between pica and immune-mediated disease has been described previously when 25% of cats with primary IMHA had pica.²

Jaundice was found in 16.7% of cats and was not always associated with haemolysis; only nine (5%) cats had both jaundice and evidence of haemolysis in the current study. Haemolysis alone rarely causes jaundice (only 10% cats with primary IMHA were jaundiced in a previous study²) owing to the large reserve capacity of the liver, although severe anaemia may cause jaundice due to hypoxic liver damage, impaired liver function and intrahepatic cholestasis.¹³ Jaundiced cases in the current study (data not shown) had diagnoses such as FIP, sepsis and cholangitis.

Haemoplasmas can induce infectious anaemia in cats.^14,15 In our study population, haemoplasma infection was uncommon and lower than a previous study of UK cats.¹⁶ This may be because the study population comprised referral cases, whereas haemoplasma infection is more commonly diagnosed in first-opinion practice, negating the need for referral.

Anaemia due to BM abnormalities was more common than haemorrhage or haemolysis in this population; indeed, a large percentage (26.7%) of cats had secondary suppression of BM activity due to infectious inflammatory disease. Further analysis of specific diseases within each BM group and the effect on prognosis and survival was not performed in this study owing to the difficulty in obtaining a retrospective definitive diagnosis for each case that fits currently-recommended BM classification systems and the small numbers within some groups.^17,18 Published studies describing aetiology of feline anaemia are uncommon. One study,¹⁹ published in German, described 100 anaemic cats in which anaemia of inflammatory disease (29%) was most commonly diagnosed, followed by haemorrhage (24%), similar to our study. However, more cats were identified with haemolysis (24%) compared with our study (19, 10.6%). Differences in the prevalence of haemolytic causes of anaemia in these studies may arise, in part, owing to geographical variation in the prevalence of infectious agents that can be associated with haemolysis in cats, such as haemoplasmas.

When classified by DAMNITV, infectious causes of anaemia were most common and FIP was diagnosed frequently, possibly reflecting difficulties with ante-mortem diagnosis of FIP prompting referral. Anaemia is commonly reported in FIP.^20,21 In human medicine^22,23 neoplasia is a common cause of anaemia, as identified in this study. Pathogenesis of neoplasia-associated anaemia is often multifactorial — in our population it was most commonly associated with BM abnormalities.

Anaemia severity differed between aetiology of anaemia development groups, with BM abnormalities associated significantly with more severe anaemia. However, anaemia severity was not associated with DAMNITV classification. DAMNITV classification is based on a large number of groups, resulting in smaller numbers within each group compared with the aetiology of anaemia development classification, possibly affecting statistical analysis. A notable finding of this study was that anaemia severity was not associated with survival to discharge, suggesting, importantly, that a clinical decision to treat an anaemic cat should not be based on anaemia severity alone.

Aetiology of anaemia development was associated significantly with survival to discharge as cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive than cats with BM abnormalities. However, the range of survival times within each group was wide. Although cats with BM abnormalities were less likely to survive overall, cats with renal insufficiency-associated BM suppression typically had long survival times (data not shown). Interestingly, all cats with primary BM disease due to immune-mediated causes survived to discharge, which is in agreement with other studies.²⁴ The overall poor survival of cats with BM abnormalities may be owing to the large number of cats within the secondary infectious inflammatory disease-associated BM suppression group (48/95, 50.5%), in which 45.8% of cats in this group either died or were euthanased.

Cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive to discharge. This agrees with other investigations describing cats with haemolytic anaemia of various causes having long survival times.^2,25,26 DAMNITV classification was also associated with survival to discharge as cats with immune-mediated disease were more likely, and cats with neoplasia were less likely, to survive to discharge. In line with this, a previous study reported long median survival time in primary IMHA in cats.²⁷

DAMNITV category appeared to be more strongly associated with survival than aetiology of anaemia development, and was included in the most parsimonious model on Cox regression analysis. It may be more useful to determine DAMNITV classification for each anaemic cat, rather than aetiology of anaemia development, as this may give a better indication of survival. In the current study, cats with trauma, neoplasia, metabolic or infectious disease were more likely to die than cats in other categories. Although it could be thought that classifying a patient according to aetiology of anaemia development does not necessarily require a definitive diagnosis, whereas DAMNITV classification often does, it is interesting that more cases were unclassified according to aetiology of anaemia development (16.1%) than DAMNITV (12.2%). The current study found that both systems provided information regarding survival to discharge and survival time, and so both are reported. An aetiological diagnosis is easier to obtain; however, DAMNITV classification appeared more significant in the final model of survival, suggesting the utilisation of DAMNITV classification for anaemic cats may be more useful.

On Cox regression analysis, younger cats had significantly longer survival times, indicating the usefulness of age as a prognostic indicator. However, therapeutic interventions were not investigated in this study and it is possible that for younger cats there was increased willingness to administer treatments (eg, blood transfusion) than for older cats, influencing this finding. Additionally, diseases associated with a better prognosis [eg, haemolytic anaemia, pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)] are also more common in younger cats. Interestingly, all cats in this study with PRCA and aplastic anaemia also survived to discharge (data not shown), which is in agreement with other studies.^24,28 An alternative, and important, reason for the longer survival times identified in younger cats is that regardless of health status, when followed for an extended time period, as in our study, younger cats will be more likely to live longer than older cats, who are more likely to die from other natural causes as they age further.

This study had a number of limitations. The study’s retrospective nature meant that not all parameters were available for all cases, for example, reticulocyte counts. Although a reticulocyte count would have provided further information for differentiating anaemia into regenerative or non-regenerative categories, the lack of reticulocyte counts available for every patient prohibited this being used as a useful category. Both PCV and HCT may be affected by dehydration, which was not taken into account, and misclassification of anaemia severity may have occurred. Additionally, some cats that were anaemic on presentation but where dehydration increased PCV/HCT to within reference intervals will have been excluded by our inclusion criteria. It was decided to use PCV/HCT results for inclusion as if only cats having a full haematology profile, including Hb, performed on presentation had been included, an important population of cats presenting outside laboratory hours would be excluded from the study, including cats with trauma and haemorrhage. Also, the current study describes a referral population, which may bias the cases seen. Some cats with severe anaemia may not have been fit for travel to our referral centre, or cats with renal insufficiency-associated BM depression may not have been referred owing to growing confidence in managing these cats within general practice. A further limitation included case classification. Case placement within DAMNITV categories and subcategorisation within aetiology of anaemia development (eg, BM classifications) is subjective and some cases fit into multiple categories. In this study each case was reviewed and categorised by two board-certified internal medicine clinicians in an attempt to address the subjectivity of categorisation, but this is still a limitation. Additionally, classification of cases by the broader aetiology of anaemia development classes may have resulted in a false impression of survival for some groups and, if larger population numbers were available, further breakdown into subcategories may have revealed more significant prognostic indicators and survival data.

Conclusions

History and clinical signs of feline anaemia are often vague and non-specific. Anaemia arose most commonly as a result of BM abnormalities by aetiology of anaemia development or, if assessed by DAMNITV classification, infectious and neoplastic disease were more common. Anaemia severity did not affect survival, suggesting that a clinical decision to treat an anaemic cat should not be based on anaemia severity alone. Cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive to discharge than cats with BM abnormalities. Cats with neoplasia were less likely and cats with immune-mediated disease more likely to survive to discharge. Younger cats were also more likely to survive.

Footnotes

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of interest

Rachel Korman and Andrea Harvey’s positions were funded by the Feline Advisory Bureau during the study period.

Accepted: 16 August 2012

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