Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nosebleeds for 3 Years in 17-Year-Old Peruvian Paso Mare Due
By Sanz, Macarena G et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Glanzmann thrombasthenia in a 17-year-old Peruvian Paso mare.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old Peruvian Paso mare was brought in for nosebleeds that had been happening for at least three years. The vet found that she had mild anemia and some unusual bleeding patterns, but her platelet count was normal. Further tests showed that her platelets weren't functioning properly, leading to a diagnosis of Glanzmann thrombasthenia, a genetic disorder affecting how platelets work. This case is notable because it's rare to diagnose this condition in an older horse. While there's no cure, managing the symptoms and monitoring her health is important for her well-being.
People also search for: horse nosebleeds treatment · Glanzmann thrombasthenia in horses · older horse bleeding problems
Abstract
A 17-year-old Peruvian Paso mare was evaluated for bilateral epistaxis that had been present for at least 3 years. The mare had mild anemia, platelet count within the reference interval, unremarkable coagulation times, and a negative Coggins test. On endoscopic examination, structural abnormalities were not observed in the nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea, or either guttural pouch, but petechiation was noted in the nasal mucosa. Additional tests revealed prolonged cutaneous bleeding time, normal concentration of von Willebrand factor antigen, an abnormal clot retraction test, and failure of plalelet aggregation in response to agonists, suggesting a functional disorder of platelets. Genetic analysis indicated the horse was homozygous for a 10-base-pair deletion that included the last 3 base pairs of exon 11 and the first 7 base pairs of intron 11 of the gene encoding glycoprotein IIb. The diagnosis was Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) caused by a structural defect in glycoprotein IIb. GT is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex on platelet surfaces. Separate genes encode each glycoprotein, and mutations in either gene can result in GT. This case of GT is unique given the age of the mare at the time of diagnosis. We conclude that GT, although an inherited disorder, should be considered in horses with suspected dysfunctional platelets, regardless of age.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21291483/