Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Does anyone know anything about Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia

Asking for a friend.

I don't, but I'm sure someone will come along who does. Just wanted to send some for your friend and her kitty!

Yes, Gail, that's what Tuxie battled for 6-7 years. His bone marrow was underproducing red and white blood cells, but worked; his body attacked the red cells as if they were a virus. What saved his life was at first Epigen and Nupigen (Epigen to boost red blood cell production by his bone marrow) and Nupigen (to boost his white blood cell production), along with steroids, to suppress his immune response. The first steroid used was prednisone. This did stop working. They then tried depomedrol. The mechanism of action in depo was different enough that it saved his life. He needed bi-weekly injections for the first number of months, then slowly he needed them less frequently (every three weeks, then every month, then every six weeks, etc.). His last depo injection was 1.5 years ago, I think, and on a raw diet his hematocrit is now 41%.

He did have a bone marrow biopsy to determine his bone marrow worked, and to rule out FeLV lurking there. He did need a blood transfusion at more than one point - but he only got one. His body "refused" any further transfusions (the blood clots when mixing, so it can't be transfused). A blood transfusion should always be THE last resort when it's the life-saving measure, because you may only get that one chance. We were lucky; the depo did its job in time. His HCT was 7%, and the vet gave him a few days to live.

You have my email addy: you can put your friend in touch with me, pass along the information, and/or feel free to ask more questions on her behalf. I can always call the vet to be reminded of other information. We were actively fighting this from 2004 - 2008, though depo was required until 2010, maybe 2011.

Many vibes for her kitty. :heart2:

LDG said:

Yes, Gail, that's what Tuxie battled for 6-7 years. His bone marrow was underproducing red and white blood cells, but worked; his body attacked the red cells as if they were a virus. What saved his life was at first Epigen and Nupigen (Epigen to boost red blood cell production by his bone marrow) and Nupigen (to boost his white blood cell production), along with steroids, to suppress his immune response. The first steroid used was prednisone. This did stop working. They then tried depomedrol. The mechanism of action in depo was different enough that it saved his life. He needed bi-weekly injections for the first number of months, then slowly he needed them less frequently (every three weeks, then every month, then every six weeks, etc.). His last depo injection was 1.5 years ago, I think, and on a raw diet his hematocrit is now 41%.
He did have a bone marrow biopsy to determine his bone marrow worked, and to rule out FeLV lurking there. He did need a blood transfusion at more than one point - but he only got one. His body "refused" any further transfusions (the blood clots when mixing, so it can't be transfused). A blood transfusion should always be THE last resort when it's the life-saving measure, because you may only get that one chance. We were lucky; the depo did its job in time. His HCT was 7%, and the vet gave him a few days to live.
You have my email addy: you can put your friend in touch with me, pass along the information, and/or feel free to ask more questions on her behalf. I can always call the vet to be reminded of other information. We were actively fighting this from 2004 - 2008, though depo was required until 2010, maybe 2011.
Many vibes for her kitty. :heart2:

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Thank you Laurie. I just heard that my friend's parents kitty was sent to the Bridge yesterday. I feel so terrible for them. This was their first pet, ever.

My friend grew up in a no pet house hold. She was past 40 when she discovered the joy of cats, and it was because she rescued an injured stray off the side of the road. She brought him to a shelter, but then went back and adopted him. (A year later she had two :lol3

But in the mean time, my friend has to be away sometimes, for work, and he would stay with her parents while she was gone, and they fell in love with their first grand-cat, the first cat they ever knew. Then, lo and behold about two years after my friend rescued her first, a big white tom, skinny and sick, showed up in her parents yard, they rescued him, and fell in love with him. They had three happy years with them.

Say a prayer for them, or send out some healing vibes, if you would. I think it must be awfully hard, the first time they ever opened their hearts and home to a pet like that, to lose him after only three years.

Sonny

Oh noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I'm so so sorry! :heart2:

Of course, many :heart2:

Sonny

OH Gail... so very sorry for your friends loss of Sonny. Many healing vibes to your friends, such a terrible loss for them.

RIP dear Sonny