Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with high red blood cells caused by cecal tumor making
By Sato, Kota et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2002·Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Secondary erythrocytosis associated with high plasma erythropoietin concentrations in a dog with cecal leiomyosarcoma.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because of a very high red blood cell count, which can lead to serious health issues. Despite normal tests for heart, lung, and kidney problems, the vet found that the dog had a tumor in the intestine (a cecal leiomyosarcoma) that was producing a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), causing the elevated red blood cell levels. To manage the condition, the vet performed periodic blood draws to keep the red blood cell count at a safer level. Unfortunately, the dog later developed acute kidney failure and passed away two years later.
People also search for: dog high red blood cell count · cecal tumor in dogs · dog kidney failure symptoms
Abstract
A 14-year-old mixed-breed dog was examined because of severe absolute erythrocytosis (PCV, 70%). Plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration was consistently high, even though results of arterial blood gas analyses were normal. Radiography, ultrasonography, urinalysis, and serum biochemical analyses did not reveal any cardiac, pulmonary, or renal abnormalities that could cause the erythrocytosis, and erythrocytosis secondary to inappropriate EPO secretion was diagnosed. The PCV was maintained at approximately 60% by means of periodic phlebotomy, and the dog died of acute renal failure 2 years later. At necropsy, a cecal leiomyosarcoma was identified. Immunohistochemical staining of sections of the tumor revealed intracellular vacuoles containing EPO, and EPO mRNA was detected in the tumor by use of a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay These results suggested that ectopic production of EPO by a cecal leiomyosarcoma was the cause of erythrocytosis in this dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11860244/