Thromboelastography platelet mapping in healthy dogs using 1 analyzer versus 2 analyzers

The objective of this study was to describe the results of thromboelastography platelet mapping (TEG-PM) carried out using 2 techniques in 20 healthy dogs. Maximum amplitudes (MA) generated by thrombin (MA(thrombin)), fibrin (MA(fibrin)), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor activity (MA(ADP)), and thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) receptor activity (stimulated by arachidonic acid, MA(AA)) were recorded. Thromboelastography platelet mapping was carried out according to the manufacturer's guidelines (2-analyzer technique) and using a variation of this method employing only 1 analyzer (1-analyzer technique) on 2 separate blood samples obtained from each dog. Mean [+/- standard deviation (SD)] MA values for the 1-analyzer/2-analyzer techniques were: MA(thrombin) = 51.9 mm (+/- 7.1)/52.5 mm (+/- 8.0); MA(fibrin) = 20.7 mm (+/- 21.8)/23.0 mm (+/- 26.1); MA(ADP) = 44.5 mm (+/- 15.6)/45.6 mm (+/- 17.0); and MA(AA) = 45.7 mm (+/- 11.6)/45.0 mm (+/- 15.4). Mean (+/- SD) percentage aggregation due to ADP receptor activity was 70.4% (+/- 32.8)/67.6% (+/- 33.7). Mean percentage aggregation due to TxA(2) receptor activity was 77.3% (+/- 31.6)/78.1% (+/- 50.2). Results of TEG-PM were not significantly different for the 1-analyzer and 2-analyzer methods. High correlation was found between the 2 methods for MA(fibrin) [concordance correlation coefficient (r) = 0.930]; moderate correlation was found for MA(thrombin) (r = 0.70) and MA(ADP) (r = 0.57); correlation between the 2 methods for MA(AA) was lower (r = 0.32). Thromboelastography platelet mapping (TEG-PM) should be further investigated to determine if it is a suitable method for measuring platelet dysfunction in dogs with thrombopathy.