Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Concurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia and primary hyperparathyroidism in a mule.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Townsend, Kile S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 26-year-old male mule was taken to the vet because he was losing weight and not eating as much as usual for about seven months. Blood tests showed he had very high calcium levels, low phosphorus levels, and an increased amount of a certain type of white blood cell, which suggested he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a type of cancer affecting blood cells). An imaging test meant to find issues with his parathyroid glands didn’t provide clear results. Although it’s unusual, this mule had both chronic lymphocytic leukemia and primary hyperparathyroidism (a condition causing high calcium levels), which made it hard to pinpoint the exact cause of his weight loss and high calcium. The outcome of the treatment for these conditions was not specified.
Abstract
A 26-year-old mule gelding was evaluated for chronic weight loss and decreased appetite. The mule had been losing weight and intermittently hypophagic for approximately 7 months. Laboratory analysis of whole blood and plasma identified severe total hypercalcemia, marked hypophosphatemia, markedly increased parathyroid hormone concentration, and marked lymphocytosis. A sestimibi scan intended to identify parathyroid gland tissue was nondiagnostic. Results of flow cytometry and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) were consistent with a B cell lymphoproliferative disorder, likely chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although not previously described concurrently, these conditions may sometimes arise together, complicating definition of the underlying mechanism for weight loss and hypercalcemia in aged equids.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37118906/