Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Differentiation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the horse. A report of two cases.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 1992
- Authors:
- Dascanio, J J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two horses were diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. The first horse was an 18-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who had swelling in his belly and genital area, along with enlarged lymph nodes. The second horse was a 20-year-old mixed breed gelding who also had swollen lymph nodes, belly swelling, and was losing weight. Blood tests showed high levels of lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell, and further tests indicated that the first horse had T-cell CLL while the second had B-cell CLL, along with some other complications. Unfortunately, the first horse's condition worsened over two months until he passed away.
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was diagnosed in two horses: an 18-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that was examined because of edema of the prepuce and ventral abdomen; and a 20-year-old mixed breed gelding that was referred because of lymphocytosis, ventral edema, and weight loss. The first horse had enlarged peripheral lymph nodes and cool nonpainful pitting edema of the ventral abdomen and prepuce. The second horse had enlarged peripheral lymph nodes, cool nonpainful pitting edema of the ventral thorax and cranial ventral abdomen, and a 3/5 holosystolic heart murmur. The diagnosis of CLL was based on increased blood lymphocyte counts and infiltration of marrow and other tissues by lymphocytes. In horse 1, the lymphocytosis persisted for 2 months between initial examination and death. The results of flow cytometric analysis on blood lymphocytes using anti-lymphocyte antibodies suggested that horse 1 had T-cell CLL, and horse 2 had B-cell CLL. In addition, the second horse had a monoclonal gammopathy (IgG), with light-chain proteinuria.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1522553/