Acute necrotizing vasculitis and thrombocytopenia in a horse
Werner, L.L.; Gross, T.L.; Hillidge, C.J.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 185(1): 87-90
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 6378856 Document Number: 225657
Acute necrotizing vasculitis was diagnosed by routine histological examination of skin biopsy specimens taken from a horse with limb oedema, papular eruptions, and cutaneous ulcerations. Deposits of immunoglobulin were found in small cutaneous vessels using direct immunofluorescence. Results of two anti-nuclear antibody tests were positive. These findings suggested an immune disorder as the cause of necrotizing vasculitis. The clinical abnormalities resolved during treatment with corticosteroids. However, one relapse occurred after discontinuation of the corticosteroid. Vasculitis is not uncommon in the horse. However, the inciting cause of the vascular lesions is often difficult to determine. The finding of antinuclear antibodies in this horse's serum is an unusual feature because other evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus could not be found.