What is pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency?
Pyruvate kinase is a key enzyme in energy metabolism in red blood cells. The deficiency of the enzyme that results from this inherited disorder causes a marked shortening of the life span of red blood cells, and this causes a severe hemolytic anemia – low red blood cell numbers due to cell breakdown. How is PK deficiency inherited? This is an autosomal recessive trait which means both parents of an affected dog are carriers of the disorder. Carriers have about one half normal enzyme activity in red blood cells, and are clinically unaffected. What breeds are affected by PK deficiency? This disorder occurs most commonly in Basenjis and has also been seen in West Highland white terriers, Cairn terriers and beagles. For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have only listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterin
