Preliminary reference intervals and the impact of citrate storage time for thrombelastography in cats including delta and the velocity curve

BACKGROUND: Thrombelastography is a useful tool in assessment of hemostasis. Beside the traditional variables, the velocity curve and the variable delta have lately earned attention. The velocity curve provides knowledge about the speed of clot formation including information about thrombin generation. Delta, which only reflects enzymatic coagulation, allows the determination of the origin of hypercoagulability when compared to clot rigidity, a variable that reflects both platelet and enzymatic activity. The aim was to establish preliminary reference intervals for feline thrombelastography including the velocity curve variables and delta obtained after 60 min of storage including the assessment of coefficients of variation. Furthermore, the effect of citrate storage time (30 versus 60 min) on feline thrombelastography will be determined. RESULTS: Prolonged storage times significantly reduced reaction (R) (P = 0.019) and clotting (K) (P = 0.008) times, split point (SP) (P = 0.019) and time to maximum rate of thrombus generation (TMRTG) (P = 0.023) values whereas maximum rate of thrombus generation (MRTG) significantly increased (P = 0.040). Preliminary reference intervals: R (min): 2.7–18.1; K (min): 0.8–3.9; alpha (°): 27.6–75.2; maximum amplitude (mm): 18.5–62.5; clot rigidity (dyn/cm(2)): 1.2–8.2; coagulation index: −4.6 – 2.6; SP (min): 2.4–15.4; delta (min): 0.3–3.1; thrombus generation (mm/min): 255.3–751.2; MRTG (mm/min): 4.0–19.3; TMRTG (min): 3.5–22.0; maximum rate of lysis (mm/min): 0.0–4.7 and time to maximum rate of lysis (min): 0.4–55.8. CONCLUSION: Storage for 60 versus 30 min induces hypercoagulable tracings including the velocity curve, some of which variables (MRTG, TMRTG) might function as sensitive markers for changes in the coagulation activity. Because of the impact of citrate storage time on thrombelastography, reference intervals have to be established using a specific and constant storage time in each laboratory.