Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mule losing weight and not eating - could it be leukemia and high
By Townsend, Kile S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Concurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia and primary hyperparathyroidism in a mule.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 26-year-old mule was brought in for chronic weight loss and a decreased appetite that had been ongoing for about seven months. Tests showed high calcium levels and a specific type of blood cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite efforts to pinpoint the cause of the mule's symptoms, the tests did not provide clear answers. Unfortunately, the mule's conditions were complex and not previously documented together, making treatment challenging.
People also search for: mule weight loss · chronic lymphocytic leukemia in mules · high calcium levels in mule
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 on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37118906/