Immune-mediated joint disease (IMJD) in cats is inflammation of several joints that is driven by the immune system rather than by bacteria in the joint. It is much less common in cats than in dogs, and the first point for the NAVLE is that a cat with polyarthritis is more likely to have an infectious cause than an immune-mediated one (MSD; Lemetayer 2014). Immunosuppression is started only after infection has been looked for.
Key facts
Immune-mediated joint disease at a glance- Species and system: cats; musculoskeletal and immune.
- Cause: immune complex deposition in the synovium causes neutrophilic inflammation. IMPA can be idiopathic or secondary to infection or other disease (FIP, FeLV, FIV, toxoplasmosis, chronic infection).
- Classic presentation: lameness, stiff gait, joint swelling, fever, lethargy.
- Two groups: nonerosive (idiopathic, reactive, SLE) and erosive (feline rheumatoid-like arthritis and feline chronic progressive polyarthritis, FCPP).
- Test: synovial fluid with non-degenerate neutrophils and a negative culture.
- Treatment: prednisolone first; never azathioprine in cats.
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
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 3 self-test questions and 9 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.