Clinical evaluation of hyperimmune plasma for treatment of dogs with naturally occurring parvoviral enteritis.

Abstract

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single infusion of hyperimmune plasma (HIP) in dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV). Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. University teaching hospital. Client-owned dogs with naturally occurring CPV. Dogs presenting for CPV treatment (n=31) underwent cardiovascular resuscitation and were randomized to receive a single dose of either HIP (10mL/kg IV) or placebo (0.9% sodium chloride [10mL/kg IV]) during the first 6hours of hospitalization. All dogs were treated with a standardized treatment protocol (IV fluid therapy [120mL/kg/d isotonic crystalloids], cefoxitin [30mg/kg IV q 8 h], maropitant [1mg/kg IV q 24 h], and buprenorphine [0.01-0.02mg/kg IV q 8 h]) until hospital discharge. Dogs treated with HIP (n=16) demonstrated a lower shock index at 24 hours (median = 0.77, range: 0.5-1.5) than those treated with placebo (n=15, median = 1.34, range: 0.5-1.7; P= 0.02). Plasma lactate concentration was lower at 24 hours in HIP-treated dogs (median = 1.3mmol/L, range: 0.9-3.4mmol/L) than in placebo-treated dogs (median = 2.1mmol/L, range: 1.1-3.4mmol/L; P= 0.01). There was no difference in duration of hospitalization when comparing HIP-treated dogs (median = 3.2 days, range: 0.83-10 days) to placebo-treated dogs (median = 2.83 days, range: 1-8.38 days; P= 0.35). Survival was 16 of 16 (100%) for the HIP group and 14 of 15 (93.3%) for the placebo group (P= 0.32). HIP at 10mL/kg IV administered to dogs with CPV within the first 6hours of hospitalization improves markers of shock during the initial 24hours of hospitalization. No effects were observed on duration of hospitalization or mortality; however, this study was underpowered to evaluate these effects. HIP was well tolerated in this population of critically ill dogs.