Platelet function in dogs with chronic liver disease

Objectives To assess platelet function, buccal mucosal bleeding time and plasma von Willebrand factor concentration in dogs with chronic inflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease and to compare results with those obtained in healthy dogs. Materials and Methods Preliminary study including 18 dogs with chronic inflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease undergoing liver biopsy and 18 healthy age‐matched control dogs. Platelet function was assessed by measuring closure time with the PFA‐100® analyser using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as an agonist. Buccal mucosal bleeding time, closure time and plasma von Willebrand factor antigen were measured in dogs in both groups. After undergoing ultrasound‐guided needle biopsy, dogs were monitored for haemorrhage to determine if there was an association of any measurement with post‐biopsy bleeding. Results The closure time was not different between the liver disease group (median 76.3; range 53 to 118.5 seconds) and control group (72.8; 57 to 89.5 seconds). The buccal mucosal bleeding time was longer in the liver disease group (median 138; range 95 to 229 seconds) than the control group (103; 63 to 200 seconds). The plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration was not different between the liver disease group (median 203; range 109 to 351%) and control group (165.5; 63 to 246%). Clinical Significance In this study, dogs with chronic necroinflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease did not have overt, clinically relevant derangements in platelet function as assessed by buccal mucosal bleeding time, closure time and von Willebrand factor analysis. In addition, none of the dogs undergoing percutaneous ultrasound‐guided biopsy in the study exhibited bleeding complications post‐biopsy procedure.