Improvement of anemia in five dogs with nonregenerative anemia treated with allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells

BACKGROUND: Nonregenerative anemia is occasionally seen in dogs and can be caused by many factors, among which nonregenerative immune-mediated anemia (NRIMA) and pure red cell anemia are relatively common causes. These are thought to be caused by immune-mediated destruction of the erythroid lineage and are treated with immunosuppressive drugs, but some of them are refractory or recurrent, so new treatments are needed. OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) for the treatment of nonregerative anemia in dogs. METHODS: ADSCs were administered to total five nonregenerative anemia cases; two NRIMA cases and two suspected NRIMA cases that were refractory to immunosuppressive agents, and one NRIMA case that has not been treated with immunosuppressive agents. RESULTS: In all cases, anemia was improved, and blood transfusion was no longer necessary. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that allogeneic ADSCs may be one of the rescue therapies for the refractory immune-mediated anemia in dogs.