Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horses with weight loss and leg swelling - what is IgA monoclonal
By Pusterla, N et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2004·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Immunoglobulin A monoclonal gammopathy in two horses with multiple myeloma.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two horses were diagnosed with a type of cancer called secretory multiple myeloma, which led to a condition where they had too much of a specific protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA) in their blood. They showed signs like losing weight, having pale gums, swelling in their legs, and developing a bacterial infection in their lungs. Blood tests revealed high protein levels, high globulin levels, low albumin levels, and high calcium levels. One horse had to be put to sleep because the cancer had spread to several organs, while the other horse received treatment for its lung infection and was still alive six months later.
Abstract
The clinical findings in two horses with secretory multiple myeloma and secondary immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal gammopathy were non-specific and included weight loss, pale mucous membranes, limb oedema and bacterial respiratory tract infection. Consistent laboratory abnormalities included hyperproteinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and hypercalcaemia. The diagnosis was based on the presence of IgA monoclonal gammopathy in serum and urine and bone marrow plasmacytosis (> 10 per cent). One horse was euthanased; it had neoplastic plasma cell infiltrates in its kidneys, spleen, liver, bone marrow, myocardium and adrenal glands. The other horse was treated for a bacterial pneumonia and was still alive six months after it was first examined.
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/15264485/