ISSN: 2639-216X
Authors: Erjavec V and Nemec Svete A*
Brachycephalic dogs, such as English and French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers, are prone to a conformation-related respiratory disorder known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Due to its systemic consequences, BOAS should be considered as a systemic disease. The present study aimed to investigate the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in BOAS patients with different degrees of BOAS and non-brachycephalic dogs. The latter served as a control group. Red blood cell distribution width is a variable included in the complete blood count report. It is calculated as the coefficient of variation of red cell volume and thus provides the information about the variability in the size of the circulating red blood cell population. Red blood cell width has traditionally been used for differential diagnosis of anemias; however, it has become an important parameter with multiple clinical applications. It is also considered a biomarker of chronic hypoxemia. We included 72 patients with BOAS and 24 non-brachycephalic dogs. According to the severity of the disease, BOAS patients were classified into grade 1 (13 dogs), grade 2 (27 dogs) and grade 3 (32 dogs). Red blood cell distribution width was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in all groups of BOAS patients compared to the group of non-brachycephalic dogs. However, we found no significant difference when comparing RDW among the three groups of BOAS patients. Our study showed that BOAS patients had increased variability in red blood cell size compared to controls. Further studies are needed to determine the potential utility of RDW in BOAS and to clarify the role of RDW in BOAS patients in relation to BOAS severity and in relation to cardiovascular risk.
Keywords: Brachycephalic Dogs; Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome; Red blood cell Distribution Width; Hematology; Platelets
