Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Systemic calcinosis in a Quarter Horse gelding homozygous for a myosin heavy chain 1 mutation.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Sponseller, Beatrice T et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was brought to the vet because he was very tired, eating less than usual, and drinking and peeing a lot. He also had severe muscle loss and a fever. Tests showed he had high levels of certain minerals in his blood and signs of inflammation, leading to a diagnosis of systemic calcinosis, a condition where calcium builds up in the body. The horse was treated with medications to help reduce the calcium levels and improve his condition. This case is notable because it is the first time a horse with this condition has been diagnosed and treated successfully while still alive, and he had a good long-term recovery.
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was presented for lethargy, decreased appetite, polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD), and severe muscle wasting suggestive of immune-mediated myositis. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The horse displayed lethargy, fever, tachyarrhythmia, inappetence, PU/PD, and severe epaxial and gluteal muscle wasting. Clinicopathologic findings were consistent with previously reported cases of systemic calcinosis in horses, including increased muscle enzyme activity, hyperphosphatemia, increased calcium-phosphorus product, hypoproteinemia, and an inflammatory leukogram. A diagnosis of systemic calcinosis was established by histopathologic evaluation of biopsy specimens from skeletal muscle, lung, and kidney. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Symptomatic treatment was complemented by IV treatment with sodium thiosulfate to reverse calcium-phosphate precipitation in soft tissue and PO aluminum hydroxide to decrease intestinal phosphorus absorption and serum phosphorus concentration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report in the veterinary literature of an antemortem diagnosis of systemic calcinosis in the horse that was successfully treated and had favorable long-term outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35801821/