Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foals with joint stiffness and swelling - what to know
By Madison, J B & Scarratt, W K·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1988·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Immune-mediated polysynovitis in four foals.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, four young horses (foals) developed a condition called immune-mediated polysynovitis, which means their joints became inflamed due to their immune system reacting improperly. All four foals had infections somewhere else in their bodies, not in their joints. They showed signs of swollen joints and stiffness, but tests for bacteria in the joints didn't show any growth. Special tests on joint tissue samples confirmed the presence of immune complexes, which are proteins that can cause inflammation. The researchers believe that the inflammation in the joints was triggered by the foals' immune response to their other infections.
Abstract
The deposition of immune complexes in the synovial membrane resulted in polysynovitis in 4 foals. All 4 foals had an infection at a site other than the joints. The polysynovitis was characterized by marked effusions of affected joints and joint stiffness. Bacterial and mycoplasmal cultures of the joints did not yield growth. Staining of synovial membrane biopsy specimens with fluorescein-labeled anti-equine IgG revealed immune complexes in the synovial membrane. Immune-mediated polysynovitis might develop in foals with bacterial infections. We propose that deposition of immunoglobulin in the synovial membrane of the affected foals was caused by an increase in circulating immune complexes formed as a result of the primary disease processes.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2970450/