Bone marrow disease in cats covers anything that disrupts blood cell production, from marrow failure to cancers that fill it. The two presentations you are most likely to be asked about are pancytopenia, in which all three cell lines are low, and multiple myeloma, a plasma cell tumor that produces a monoclonal protein.
Key facts
Bone marrow disease at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic and lymphatic.
- Pancytopenia: anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia together; marrow cellularity separates aplastic anemia, myelophthisis and ineffective hematopoiesis.
- FeLV: the most important infectious driver; MDS is common in FeLV-infected cats.
- Multiple myeloma: uncommon, older cats; hyperglobulinemia with a monoclonal peak; extramedullary spread (liver, spleen, kidney) more typical than bone lesions.
- Sampling: marrow aspirate and core biopsy.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Practical points for case work
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 8 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.