Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Erythrocyte volume distribution analysis and hematologic changes in two horses with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 1983
- Authors:
- Weiser, G et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two horses were diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, a condition where the body destroys its own red blood cells. This diagnosis was based on tests showing low red blood cell counts, fragile red blood cells, and a positive test for antibodies against their own red blood cells. While they were treated with steroids, their condition showed some improvement, as indicated by an increase in red blood cell volume and changes in their bone marrow. Over four to five weeks, the number of larger red blood cells increased, while the number of normal-sized red blood cells decreased, suggesting that the larger cells were not helping to replace the normal ones. Overall, the treatment partially worked, leading to some recovery in the horses' blood cell counts.
Abstract
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia was diagnosed in two horses on the basis of regenerative anemia, increased erythrocyte fragility in hypotonic saline, autoagglutination, and a positive direct antiglobulin (Coomb's) test. During steroid therapy partial resolution of the anemia was indicated by rising packed cell volume, macrocytosis, and bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia. Using erythrocyte volume distribution histograms (erythrograms), the regenerative response was characterized by analysis of macrocytic and normocytic erythrocyte subpopulations. In both horses, a gradual net increase of about 2 X 10(6) macrocytes/microliter occurred over a four- to five-week period. Over the same interval there was a gradual decrease in the number of normocytes. We suggest that the macrocytes remained large through this period rather than contributing to normocyte population growth. Erythrograms may provide an additional means of evaluating erythrocyte regeneration in horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6623846/