PIMA: The Anaemia That You Didn’t Know About, But Really Should. With Dr Cynthia Lucidi and Dr Claire Sharp. Bonus - Live at IVECCS

The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

Today’s bonus IVECCS live session wasn’t your average ‘clinical 101’. I had the absolute privilege of getting two brilliant minds on the yellow couch, and … wow.

Apparently 1 + 1 = 🤯 !!

Clinical pathogist Dr Cynthia Lucidi joined me to unpack her talk on Diagnosing Ineffective Hematopoiesis. If you’re a bit lost with that title - don’t worry, so was I! So I brought backup: ECC legend Dr Claire Sharp joined me to ask the smart questions, and together, they cracked open a topic every GP and ECC vet needs to understand: PIMA – Precursor-Targeted Immune-Mediated Anaemia. (If you’ve ever managed an anaemia case that almost looked like IMHA but just didn’t quite fit, or just an anaemia that didn’t want to fit into ANY of the boxes, it was probably this!)

This one started out GP-friendly, but with two minds like these-it escalated fast. Expect specialist-level gold. You’ll want to give this one your full attention. But I promise - it’s worth it!

What we cover:

• Defining ineffective haematopoiesis and how it differs from hypoplasia
• Diagnostic criteria and differentials for PIMA vs. IMHA
• Importance of timing and interpretation in persistent non-regenerative anaemia
• Why bone marrow aspiration is underused and how to perform it effectively
• Pathologist tips on identifying spherocytes and phagocytosis artefacts
• Challenges of diagnosing IMHA and PIMA in cats
• Role of transfusions and crossmatching in long-term PIMA management
• Timeframes for response and remission in PIMA treatment
• When to consider splenectomy for refractory cases
• Clinical significance of myelofibrosis in dogs with PIMA
• Educating clients and general practitioners on prognosis and referral timing

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