Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Steroid-responsive neutropenia in a cat with progressive feline leukemia virus infection.
- Journal:
- Veterinary clinical pathology
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Stavroulaki, Evangelia M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinic of Medicine
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old female domestic shorthair cat was taken to the vet because she had stopped eating, was very tired, and showed some mild stomach issues. Blood tests showed she had a very low level of neutrophils, which are important for fighting infections, and she tested positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). While she was in the hospital, her blood tests continued to show low neutrophils, along with some severe anemia and low platelet counts. After starting treatment with prednisolone, a type of steroid, her blood counts returned to normal within three days. Unfortunately, when the treatment was stopped too soon, her condition worsened, but after restarting the steroid, she achieved a complete and lasting recovery. This case suggests that even cats with serious FeLV infections can respond well to treatment, so a bad outlook isn't always necessary.
Abstract
An 8-month-old female domestic shorthair cat was presented to the Animal Medical Center with anorexia, lethargy, and mild gastrointestinal signs. A CBC revealed a profound neutropenia, and serologic testing with an in-house test kit (SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, IDEXX) was positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen. Serial hematologic examinations during hospitalization showed a persistent neutropenia with occasionally severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Prednisolone administration afforded complete hematologic remission within 3 days. Four weeks after the premature discontinuation of prednisolone, the patient relapsed; however, complete and prolonged hematologic remission was achieved after prednisolone was re-induced. Bone marrow aspiration cytology was consistent with immune-mediated destruction of the mature myeloid cells. steroid-responsive (likely immune-mediated) cytopenias rarely occur in cats with progressive FeLV infection. Although only a few cases of FeLV-positive, severely neutropenic cats that responded to immunosuppressive therapy have been reported, this case highlights that a grave prognosis should not always be given to these FeLV-positive cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33063876/