Dr. Andrew Mackin
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Canine Azathioprine Project: Help Wanted and Appreciated
Have You Seen Any Dogs With Azathioprine-Associated Myelosuppression?
| Blood Smear Azathioprine Toxicity | 
Blood smear from a dog with severe pancytopenia secondary to Azathioprine
toxicity. Despite receiving standard therapeutic doses of Azathioprine to treat pemphigus vulgaris, the dog developed profound neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and moderate anemia. Practically no neutrophils or platelets could be found on a blood smear. Fortunately, the dog recovered once Azathioprine was discontinued, but did require broad spectrum antibiotics, strict cage rest with reverse isolation, and human recombinant Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor. |
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Drs. Damon Rodriguez, Cory Langston and Andrew Mackin of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine are currently conducting a study looking at the pathogenesis of azathioprine-induced myelosuppression in dogs. As part of this project, in collaboration with Dr Howard McLeod of the Washington University School of Medicine, we are measuring red blood cell activity of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), one of the key enzymes involved in the metabolism of azathioprine. We hypothesize that, as with humans that develop azathioprine-induced myelosuppression, the severe myelosuppression that is sometimes seen in dogs receiving azathioprine may be due to an inherited deficiency of the TPMT enzyme. We are therefore seeking to recruit blood samples from dogs that have recovered from an episode of azathioprine-associated severe myelosuppression in the past few years, in order that we may characterize their TPMT activity.
We are seeking to recruit blood samples from dogs that have had an episode of dose-limiting myelosuppression (specifically, a neutrophil count that fell below 2,500/ul) associated with azathioprine. We would greatly appreciate you contacting us if you have seen a dog that met these criteria in the past few years, and believe that the owners would be amenable to revisiting your practice in order that you can collect a blood sample. Our project will reimburse any costs associated with sample handling and shipping.
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Dr. Andrew Mackin BSc BVMS MVS DVSc FACVSc DSAM MRCVS Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Reviewed 5/3/04