Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia induced by penicillin in horses.
- Journal:
- The Cornell veterinarian
- Year:
- 1987
- Authors:
- Blue, J T et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three horses developed a serious condition called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, which means their immune systems mistakenly attacked their own red blood cells, after being treated with penicillin, an antibiotic. Tests showed that these horses had specific antibodies that reacted to their red blood cells coated with penicillin. After stopping the penicillin, the levels of these antibodies went down, but some were still detectable months later. One horse was given penicillin again, and while the antibody levels went up a little, it did not develop anemia this time. Overall, while penicillin-induced anemia is uncommon in horses, many horses can have antibodies against penicillin without being anemic.
Abstract
Three horses developed severe, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia after treatment with penicillin. The horses had positive direct antiglobulin (Coombs) tests and high titers of IgG antibody that agglutinated penicillin-coated equine red cells. Two of the horses were tested for antibodies to autologous red cell antigens; autoantibodies were not present. Titers of antipenicillin antibody decreased after penicillin was discontinued but IgG antibody was detectable months after recovery. One of the horses was challenged with penicillin; antibody titer increased slightly, but anemia did not develop. Antipenicillin antibody of the IgM class was present in low titer in 23 (77%) of 30 non-anemic horses tested. Apparently, the horse is similar to man in that penicillin-induced anemia is rare but the percentage of individuals with antipenicillin antibody is high.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3677710/