Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine immune-mediated diabetes mellitus: a case report.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 1995
- Authors:
- Elie, M & Hoenig, M
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A four-year-old spayed female toy fox terrier was brought to the vet because she had high blood sugar and severe anemia, which is a low red blood cell count. The vet diagnosed her with immune-mediated diabetes mellitus, a condition where the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and also found that she had immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, where her body was destroying its own red blood cells. After two months of treatment with medications to suppress her immune system, her anemia improved. She was treated with insulin for four months to manage her diabetes, and after that, she no longer needed insulin, but she still tested positive for antibodies that could indicate her diabetes might come back in the future.
Abstract
A four-year-old, spayed female toy fox terrier presented with hyperglycemia and severe anemia. A diagnosis of immune-mediated diabetes mellitus was made based upon the finding of beta-cell specific antibodies. Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia was diagnosed based on findings of a regenerative anemia, spherocytosis, hyperbilirubinemia, hemoglobinuria, and bilirubinuria. The anemia resolved following two months of immunosuppressive therapy. The diabetes was treated with insulin for four months, after which time treatment was no longer necessary. However, the dog remained positive for beta-cell antibodies which may be a predictive marker for the recurrence of diabetes mellitus in the future.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7552660/