Evaluation of reticulated platelets in dogs

Abstract

Reticulated platelets are immature platelets that have increased ribonucleic acid content. Reticulated platelets were evaluated in the blood of 20 healthy non-thrombocytopenic dogs and 45 thrombocytopenic dogs to determine if the assay could be used as a non-invasive measure of thrombopoiesis. Reticulated platelets were evaluated by detecting fluorescence of thiazole orange-stained platelets using a flow cytometer. Of 45 thrombocytopenic dogs 36 had an increased percentage of reticulated platelets when compared to values for the healthy non-thrombocytopenic dogs. However, none of these dogs had increased total reticulated platelet numbers. Most dogs with an increased percentage of reticulated platelets had disease conditions in which the thrombocytopenia was attributed to destruction or consumption of platelets, whereas, those that did not have an increased percentage of reticulated platelets had conditions associated with decreased thrombopoiesis. However, too few dogs with suspected decreased thrombopoiesis were included in the study to make a conclusion about the capacity of the test to detect decreased platelet production. Results of this study indicate that the percentage of reticulated platelets may be useful as a non-invasive predictor of thrombopoiesis in dogs.