Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with thymoma developed muscle weakness and skin ulcers
By Hill, Peter B et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2013·School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Putative paraneoplastic pemphigus and myasthenia gravis in a cat with a lymphocytic thymoma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old female spayed Himalayan cat was brought in with a mass in her chest, which was diagnosed as a lymphocytic thymoma (a type of tumor). After the tumor was removed, she developed myasthenia gravis, a condition that affects muscle control, but this was managed with medications. Unfortunately, she later developed severe skin sores and ulcers on her belly and other areas. After testing, the vet diagnosed her with paraneoplastic pemphigus, a rare skin disease linked to her thymoma. Treatment with prednisolone and chlorambucil helped her skin heal, and she has not had any further issues since stopping the medication.
People also search for: cat skin sores treatment · myasthenia gravis in cats · thymoma in cats · paraneoplastic pemphigus cat symptoms
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare and severe autoimmune blistering skin disease of humans. It is associated mainly with haematopoietic neoplasia and a unique autoantibody profile. At this time and in animals, PNP has only been reported in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To report clinical, histological and immunological findings in a cat with suspected thymoma-associated PNP. ANIMAL: An 8-year-old female spayed Himalayan cat. RESULTS: The cat presented with a thoracic mass diagnosed as a lymphocytic thymoma. Two weeks postremoval, the cat developed myasthenia gravis, which was controlled with prednisolone and pyridostigmine. The myasthenia gravis resolved, but the cat developed severe cutaneous erosions and ulcers primarily affecting the caudal ventral abdomen and perineum, but also the ventral chest, axillae and medial pinnae. Histopathological analysis revealed changes consistent with pemphigus vulgaris and erythema multiforme, a combination of lesions highly suggestive of PNP. Direct immunofluorescence revealed intercellular epidermal IgG deposition in the lower epidermis, especially in areas of suprabasal clefts. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed antikeratinocyte IgG to basal keratinocytes and bladder epithelial cells. Immunological results supported a diagnosis of PNP. Skin lesions were treated with prednisolone and chlorambucil and, after clinical remission was obtained, the drugs were tapered and eventually discontinued without further recurrence of skin lesions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In this cat, clinical, microscopic and immunological findings were consistent with a diagnosis of PNP, with thymoma being the suspected cause.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24164490/