Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with multiple myeloma develops hemophagocytic syndrome
By Dunbar, Mark D & Lyles, Sarah·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2013·Department of Physiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hemophagocytic syndrome in a cat with multiple myeloma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old male Domestic Medium Hair cat was brought to the vet with a two-week history of upper respiratory symptoms. During the examination, the vet found no obvious signs of respiratory illness but noted some lab results indicating anemia and high globulin levels. Further tests revealed that the cat had multiple myeloma, a type of cancer affecting plasma cells, and a rare condition called hemophagocytic syndrome, where the body mistakenly attacks its own blood cells. This case is significant as it highlights a unique occurrence of this syndrome linked to cancer in cats.
People also search for: cat upper respiratory infection treatment · cat anemia causes · multiple myeloma in cats · hemophagocytic syndrome in cats
Abstract
An 11-year-old, castrated male, Domestic Medium Hair cat was presented to the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital with a 2-week history of upper respiratory infection and increased serum globulins, as reported by the referring veterinarian. Physical examination was unremarkable other than melanosis of the left iris, with no evidence of ocular, nasal, or respiratory disease. Laboratory abnormalities included moderate nonregenerative anemia, mild leukopenia, mild hyperfibrinogenemia, severe hyperglobulinemia, mild hypoalbuminemia, and hypocholesterolemia. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasonographic examination revealed mild splenomegaly with no other abnormalities. Thoracic radiographs revealed no abnormalities. Cytologic evaluation of fine-needle aspirates from the spleen, liver, and bone marrow revealed numerous plasma cells and many vacuolated macrophages exhibiting marked phagocytosis of mature erythrocytes and platelets, occasionally metarubricytes and leukocytes, and rarely plasma cells. The cytologic interpretation was multiple myeloma and associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal gammopathy, providing further evidence for a multiple myeloma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of HPS secondary to neoplasia in a cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23278382/