Macrocytosis secondary to hydroxyurea therapy

A 10‐year‐old, male neutered Shetland Sheepdog was presented to the University of Florida for evaluation of a well‐granulated mast cell tumor. Hydroxyurea therapy was instituted and serial CBCs showed persistent mild anemia and macrocytosis without a corresponding increase in polychromasia. The dog&...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary clinical pathology 2017-09, Vol.46 (3), p.451-456
Main Authors: Conrado, Francisco O., Weeden, Amy L., Speas, Abbie L., Leissinger, Mary K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia, Macrocytic - chemically induced
Anemia, Macrocytic - veterinary
Animals
Canine
chemotherapy
Cytotoxicity
Differential diagnosis
Dog Diseases - blood
Dog Diseases - chemically induced
Dog Diseases - drug therapy
Dogs
Granulation
Hematocrit - veterinary
Hydroxyurea
Hydroxyurea - adverse effects
Hydroxyurea - therapeutic use
large erythrocytes
Male
Mastocytosis, Cutaneous - drug therapy
Mastocytosis, Cutaneous - veterinary
MCV
Veterinary medicine
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Summary:A 10‐year‐old, male neutered Shetland Sheepdog was presented to the University of Florida for evaluation of a well‐granulated mast cell tumor. Hydroxyurea therapy was instituted and serial CBCs showed persistent mild anemia and macrocytosis without a corresponding increase in polychromasia. The dog's MCV increased progressively, reaching its highest value of 100.0 fL after 6 months of treatment, and a diagnosis of macrocytosis associated with hydroxyurea therapy was made. The dog's increase in MCV was prominent, and rapidly decreased after the drug was discontinued, consistent with previous observations in human and canine subjects treated with hydroxyurea. Hydroxyurea is a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent used in a variety of conditions in human and veterinary medicine, and megaloblastic changes associated with its use have been described in multiple species. This report shows that hydroxyurea treatment is a differential diagnosis for prominent macrocytosis in dogs in the absence of other signs of erythrocyte regeneration.
ISSN:0275-6382
1939-165X
DOI:10.1111/vcp.12511