Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immunodeficiency associated with lymphosarcoma in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1992
- Authors:
- Furr, M O et al.
- Affiliation:
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old horse was found to have problems with its immune system and a type of cancer called disseminated lymphosarcoma. To help support the horse while doctors studied its immune function, it received special nutrition through an IV for 35 days. Although this treatment helped with nutrition, it did not fix the horse's low levels of immunoglobulins (proteins that help fight infections). Tests showed that while the horse's immune cells were not behaving normally, they worked fine when tested with a specific type of horse serum. Overall, the treatment did not resolve the horse's immunoglobulin deficiency.
Abstract
Immune system dysfunction and immunoglobulin deficiency was diagnosed in a 2-year-old horse with disseminated lymphosarcoma. Prolonged (35 days) parenteral nutrition was delivered to support the horse during a period in which immune function studies could be performed. Correction of nutritional compromise by use of parenteral nutrition did not correct the immunoglobulin deficiency, and results of lymphocyte phenotype testing did not indicate abnormal proportions of leukocytes. Lymphoblast transformation studies were suggestive of a circulating immunosuppressive factor in the horse's serum. Normal cell function was detected when the cells were stimulated in precolostral equine serum.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1500330/