Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multiple myeloma presenting as blepharitis in a horse.
- Journal:
- Veterinary clinical pathology
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Hayes, Allison M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare was experiencing repeated episodes of blepharitis, which is inflammation of the eyelids. During routine blood tests, the vet found a high level of certain proteins in her blood, which led to further investigation. A sample from her bone marrow showed that more than 30% of the cells were plasma cells, and additional tests confirmed she had multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. This case highlights that unusual symptoms in horses, like her eyelid inflammation, can sometimes be linked to serious conditions like cancer. The treatment details weren't provided, but the diagnosis suggests that the mare may need careful management moving forward.
Abstract
Myeloma-related disorders, including multiple myeloma, extramedullary plasmacytoma, and solid osseous plasmacytoma, are rare in horses. Clinical complaints for myeloma-related disorders are nonspecific, and when present, M-protein location is more variable on protein electrophoresis in horses relative to dogs and cats. Here, we describe a case of a 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare who presented with recurrent blepharitis. Marked hyperglobulinemia was an incidental finding on routine hematologic and biochemical testing. Bone marrow aspiration consisted of >30% plasma cells, and serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated a monoclonal gammopathy in the alpha 2 fraction leading to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Immunofixation and radial immunodiffusion confirmed the presence of an IgG M-protein. Based on a restricted peak in the alpha 2 location, the specific M-protein is suspected to be IgG(T), an IgG isotype unique to horses. M-protein migration in horses is variable relative to dogs and cats, yet immunofixation can still be used to identify equine IgG M-protein isotypes. The unique clinical presentation in this case also serves as a reminder to consider neoplasia in horses with unusual or nonspecific clinical signs.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37248209/