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Discussion on Cushings horse with Enlarged Spleen
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Member:
mosttime
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Posted on Friday, Mar 30, 2012 - 1:49 pm:
Hello all,
My 27 year old TB has had Cushings for 10 years and been treated with Pergolide since the diagnosis in 2003. He is doing well however on a recent rectal exam the vet noticed a "very enlarged" spleen. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it, said perhaps just advanced age. Has anyone noticed this symptom on their well-advanced Cushinoid horses? Should other tests be run?
Thanks,
Carole
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Apr 2, 2012 - 8:06 pm:
Hello Carole,
The spleen has several main functions in the horse. To store RBC's that can be released back into the blood when needed such as fight or flight reactions and it is a immune organ with both scavenging (including old RBC's) and lymphocyte production functions. Enlargement may indicate one of these functions is in high gear. Cancer could also be a cause of enlargement.
I do not associate this with being Cushinoid other than with several secondary causes, like an increased propensity for infection. Considering the importance of the spleen to both white and red blood cell lines I would think the next step in pursuit of a possible cause would be a CBC w/ differential and microscopic examination.
DrO
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