Auto-immune Mediated Anemia (IMHA)

Timotei was diagnosed with it today, and the vet said over 50% die despite of treatment. He's not even two years old.

Does anyone have any experence of IMHA in cats?

The prognosis depends on the cause. Feline leukemia is a common cause and once FeLV has progressed to IMHA, the condition is in the terminal phase and it's really best for Kitty to be euthanized at that point.

But if your cat has tested FeLV negative, the other common cause is hemobartonella and that is definitely treatable. Doxycycline is usually the treatment of choice in the US. Blood transfusions may also be required. If you have a healthy cat who weighs more than 10# and is from 1-10 years old, s/he may be a very suitable blood donor if you do not have a veterinary blood bank that stocks feline products near you. Steroids (prednisone or similar) are also usually used.

To be honest, I've read about IMHA but I've only seen it in dogs. Most of the time when the clients elected to treat aggressively, the dog did survive.

Do you happen to know what your cat's PCV (packed cell volume, also called hematocrit or possibly red cell count) was?

Wow, the vet didn't tell me any of that. Timotei seems a lot better right now, he's even playing and protested strongly when I gave him his medication, yesterday he didn't have the strenght. As you seem to know a lot about it, have you got any idea if we're out of the woods, or do relapses occur often?

If it comes to blood transfusion, his brother is probably the best bet, we have blood banks only for dogs and horses.

Our Sonny had this. He was a 3yr old Ragdoll. We had him at three different vets and they could never pinpoint the cause. He was FelV neg. Hemobartenella neg. (although they treated him for this just in case the test was wrong). The only thing they did know was that his RBCs were dying off before they were matured. He had numerous blood transfusions and he would get a little better but only to crash again. He fought this for 6 months before we had to put him to sleep.

Good Luck and I hope your kitty gets better.

Timotei still seems to be on the mend. He's back to being his active self. He's still yellow, but is getting a lot less pale. He's stuffing himself with good iron packed heart like he thinks he's a lion. The cortisone and the antibiotics seem to work well.

Fingers crossed, I'm pretty hopeful right now.

I decided to bring this thread up, since I don't think there has been anything else about IMHA on this board.

Timotei has been ill for a year now. Mostly he has been perfectly fine with no trace of any sickness, but everytime I try to decrease his cortisone dosage, he suffers a relapse. This has happened 3 times, the last time just this week.

Are there any more people with IMHA cats who'd like to share experiences? I'd be really interested to know, since Timotei's illness seems to be of the chronic kind.

BTW, about the hemobartonella: I spoke about that with one of the vets treating him. There is no hemobartonella in Finland, I'm told.

May I ask what food you're feeding him? You've probably already done this, but I just want to be sure that you have checked to see that it has no onions or garlic. Onions and onion powder can cause hemolytic anemia. Ingesting too much zinc is another possible cause, and zinc can be found in all kinds of objects including coins, certain rash creams, and other household items.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/hemolyt...ats/page1.aspx
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html

I don't have any personal experiences to share, but I wanted to be sure you knew about these other non-immune types of hemolytic anemia that could potentially be related to your case.

Wow...I have never heard that condition in a cat. I'm sorry I can't help you, but I'm thinking of you both and sending you many vibes that it isn't something really bad.

I'm sorry to hear this about your sweet boy, many prayers headed his way

Originally Posted by cloud_shade

May I ask what food you're feeding him? You've probably already done this, but I just want to be sure that you have checked to see that it has no onions or garlic. Onions and onion powder can cause hemolytic anemia. Ingesting too much zinc is another possible cause, and zinc can be found in all kinds of objects including coins, certain rash creams, and other household items.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/hemolyt...ats/page1.aspx
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html

I don't have any personal experiences to share, but I wanted to be sure you knew about these other non-immune types of hemolytic anemia that could potentially be related to your case.

Click to expand...

I know onions cause anemia and he isn't eating any, just regular good quality dry food and some carefully balanced raw. Thanks for the links, they are really interesting.

I figured you probably knew, but it was worth mentioning just in case. Some premium cat foods contain garlic, and while it hasn't been proven that garlic has the same effect, many of us avoid feeding it since it is in the same family as onions.

Its not all that common for cats to get AIHA (auto immune hemolytic anemia) also known as IMHA (Immune mediated hemolytic anemia). But with all of the cases I have seen working at a vets office, I have never seen one not make it. It may take some longer then others (I have seen some battle it for up to a year) But I have never seen one not make it. The main things you need to pay attention to is 1) that he is eatting WELL 2) Talk to you vet about his PCV. Anything below 10 is VERY dangerous. Death normally occurs around 7.

Its not really known what causes it. It can be anything thing from a bug bite, to a vaccine, to some kind of trauma. The body just starts attacking everything.

One more thing. This is going to be something your going to have to monitor for the rest of your babies life. I have seen several animals that have gotten a clean bill of health for a year, only to come back in with it again. Constantly check and make sure your babies gums are pink. When you press on there gums it should take around two seconds for the gums to go from white to pink. This is called their capillary refill time.

Good luck and best wishes for you and your baby!

Originally Posted by Shorty14788

But with all of the cases I have seen working at a vets office, I have never seen one not make it. It may take some longer then others (I have seen some battle it for up to a year) But I have never seen one not make it.

Click to expand...

Thanks, this made me feel a lot better.

Well. It's over for Timotei. His blood tests showed today that his liver is failing, nothing can be done. The consulted specialist recommended euthanasia. Timotei will be put to sleep tomorrow. I've been crying and shaking all day.

Thanks for everyone who offered their sympathy and advice.

I'm very sorry to hear this. You and Timotei are in my thoughts.

i'm so sorry, we'll look for him over the rainbow bridge soon.

My beautiful boy, Charlie puss was diagnosed 3 years ago. It took a few months of steroids to get him stabilised and for the last 2 and half years he's been well on Leukeran every 3rd day. Then last week he had a big relapse, he was pale and not eating much. His PCV had fallen from 36 to 26 so we restarted steroids.  It was checked again 48hrs later and had dropped to 20, his steroids were increased. Checked his PCV again after 48hrs and it was 21 so I felt hopeful he was responding but 2 days later it had dropped to 16 and had to be admitted to the vets. It's now 3 days later, he's still in at the vets and his PCV has dropped to 12. I'm so devastated. The vet has spoken to a specialist and of the options I've been given I've decided to try reducing his meds to see if they have suppressed his bone marrow too much, he's being given intravenous fluids now too. If this doesn't work he will have to be put to sleep. It's a horrible condition and one which I'd never heard of until Charlie got it. I feel I've been really lucky to have had him this long after what I've read about this awful disease. I'm dreading tomorrow.