Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lymphosarcoma and associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1984
- Authors:
- Reef, V B et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three horses were diagnosed with a type of cancer called equine lymphosarcoma, which is a cancer of the lymphatic system. They showed signs like losing weight, having trouble breathing, swelling in their legs, and ongoing belly pain. Tests revealed that one horse had a condition where the immune system attacks its own red blood cells, leading to anemia (low red blood cell count), and another horse had a similar issue with low platelet counts. Unfortunately, one horse died despite treatment, another passed away shortly after surgery to remove a tumor, and the last was put to sleep because its condition worsened. An examination after death showed that the cancer had spread extensively throughout their bodies.
Abstract
Three horses with equine lymphosarcoma were examined because of clinical signs including chronic weight loss, respiratory distress, peripheral edema, and chronic colic. Clinicopathologic findings included evidence of an immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia also was diagnosed in 1 of the horses and suspected in another. One horse died in spite of treatment, 1 died 5 hours after surgical removal of a tumor encircling the jejunum, and 1 was euthanatized because of deteriorating condition. Necropsy of each horse revealed extensive neoplastic infiltration of peripheral lymph nodes and abdominal or thoracic viscera with neoplastic lymphocytes.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6546561/