Premium
Steroid‐responsive neutropenia in a cat with progressive feline leukemia virus infection
Author(s) -
Stavroulaki Evangelia M.,
Mylonakis Mathios E.,
Papanikolaou Eleni,
Hatzis Aristodimos,
Xenoulis Panagiotis G.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/vcp.12896
Subject(s) - feline leukemia virus , medicine , prednisolone , neutropenia , leukopenia , lethargy , anemia , immunology , immunosuppression , cats , gastroenterology , chemotherapy
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.