Retrospective study on diagnostic yield and medical impact of diagnostic imaging in dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in Belgium.

Routine diagnostic imaging does not improve survival in non-associative canine IMHA.

This retrospective cohort study examined 117 dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in Belgium between 2017-2023 to determine the incidence of associative versus non-associative IMHA and evaluate whether diagnostic imaging influences outcomes. Only 6% of cases were associative IMHA, while 94% were non-associative. Among non-associative IMHA dogs, thoracic radiographs were performed in 57.3% of cases (55.5% unremarkable) and abdominal ultrasound in 81.8% (17.8% unremarkable). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that diagnostic imaging did not significantly affect survival odds at 3, 6, or 12 months. Independent risk factors for decreased survival included increasing age, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, and higher number of packed red blood cell transfusions. The authors conclude that routine diagnostic imaging may not be necessary in non-associative IMHA cases, and individual case-based assessment should guide imaging decisions in clinical practice.

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