Human intravenous immunoglobulin as salvage therapy in a dog with refractory precursor‐targeted immune‐mediated anaemia

Abstract

A 7‐year‐old, male, entire German shorthaired Pointer was diagnosed with precursor‐targeted immune‐mediated anaemia based on haematological abnormalities and bone marrow evaluation. Despite 8 months of immunomodulatory therapy with prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine and oclacitinib, remission was not achieved, and a packed red blood cell transfusion was required to maintain stability. A single infusion of human intravenous immunoglobulin (Privigen; 0.96 g/kg) was administered as salvage therapy. Treatment was well tolerated and associated with rapid clinical improvement and a marked increase in haematocrit. This early response was followed by continued haematological improvement, permitting gradual withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy and resulting in sustained remission. This report describes the novel use of a single human intravenous immunoglobulin infusion in a dog with refractory precursor‐targeted immune‐mediated anaemia already receiving long‐term multiple concurrent immunomodulatory therapy.