Auto
Immune
Hemolytic Anemia
*This
protocol is effective on all species
Table
Of Contents
*This
protocol is effective on all species
Link
to complete Report:
This report follows the onset,
development and eventual resolution
of Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia in a
15 year old Thoroughbred Mare.
Updates
Link
to Recovery Notes
Pictures
Of Nan and Savvy Hunting Together Again - March 2003!
Pictures
Of Nan and Savvy Competing In Dressage! August 2003
What
Is Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia ? / Symptoms etc.
Why
do these products work on on Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia
when drugs don't?
Updates
Treatment
with TF Animal Stress Pack™ began New Years Day 2002
January 30, 2002
February 11, 2002
February 12, 2002
May 7, 2002
June13, 2002
June18, 2002 > Quick
Time Line
September
10, 2002
January 8, 2003 > Riding again!
March 29,2003
This
is the Story of Blue Savannah, A.K.A. Savvy.
Thoroughbred
Mare,
foaled April 1988
No previous history of ANY medical problems.
Savvy
presented to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching
Hospital on December 7, 2000 for evaluation of icterus,
decreased appetite and water intake for about one week, and
red/black discolored urine.
Before
presentation she had become more depressed and was showing
possible colic signs and a fever, both of which responded to
Banamine.
Savvy was placed in the care of Dr. Susan White, Department Head of Large Animal
Medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching
Hospital.
Upon
examination her vital signs were within normal limits, but
mucous membranes and sclera were quite icteric. Her PCV (packed
cell volume/Hematocrit) was markedly decreased (21%). A CBC
revealed a normal white cell count with an increase in bands
and a fibrinogen of 400. A serum profile revealed severe hemolysis
in the serum. The hemolysis appeared to be intravascular.
Then
the rule out process began. Rule outs included Red Maple Toxicity,
piroplasmosis, leptospirosis, equine infectious anemia, and
immune mediated hemolytic anemia (not quite the same as Auto
Immune Hemolytic Anemia).
She was placed
on IV fluids and Vitamin C, and given little hope of stabilizing.
The situation was grave and the outlook grim.
Savvy
was a little stable the next day, but her PCV continued to
fall (15-16%) and the search for a donor for transfusion began.
The universal donor horse at UGA was not a match and just about
every horse in the program and facility was cross matched.
A match was found in a research horse in Dr. Michelle Barton's
care, and she postponed the research project so Bear, a quarter
horse mare, could be Savvy's donor. Coombs test and Leptospira
titers were all negative and the Dr.s involved in the case
began to think Savvy's hemolysis was immune mediated. She was
started on Dexamethosone Dec 8.
By 12/12/00 her
PCV had fallen to 12% and while the staff was placing another
IV catheter in the right jugular, she collapsed due to hypoxia.
After administering diazepam, 8L of blood was transfused. She
improved a little over the next few days, but another transfusion
was eminent and more horses, including the UGA Equestrian Team's
mounts, were all cross matched. A match was found in a Quarter
Horse gelding named Quill. Savvy was transfused, again, on 12/19/00.
No one was very optimistic, but Savvy continued to improve
daily and continued on daily Dexamethisone injections. As we
would try to decrease the levels of the steroid, she would
start hemolyzing and we were unable to decrease the dose as
quickly as we wanted to to avoid laminitis problems. By Christmas
Day 12/25/00 she was beginning to show some foot soreness,
but no true lameness when circled. She improved enough by 1/16/
01 for the IV catheter to be removed and it was decided
that on January 23, 2001 she could go home.
I
kept her on decreasing doses of the steroid until 3/16/01 when
I discontinued it. All went well until 5/15/2001 when
the hemolysis started again. I would pull a little blood in
a "crit" tube and spin it daily to get an idea of where her
PCV was and I would run a CBC every 3-5 days. When the trend
started again, I called UGA and went back for evaluation. They
sent us home with Prednisolone this time and a 30 day supply
of Azathioprin (Immuron). Things were not looking so good again,
but I was able to decrease the Prednisolone and I did not want
to continue on the Azathioprin due to cost and the fact that
it is a Chemotherapy drug. By then it was mid-June and she
was starting to get a little lame. Both Vet and Farrier thought
it might be an abscess.
July
went by (slowly) with steroid injections every 3-4 days in
decreasing doses until August 8 when I discontinued the steroid.
By this time she was quite "Cushinoid" and the foot situation
was getting worse. My local Vet had not given us much hope
at this point and I was told my horse probably had Lymphosarcoma
or Myoleioma. Still, she showed no symptoms of these diseases
and was bright, alert, and responsive. She has never looked
like a "sick" horse.
On September
16, 2001 the first abscess appeared at the top
of the right coronary band. Another one appeared an inch
away and soon they were connected. Her blood work was little
low, but nothing critical. I was giving Pred every 7-10 days.
Needless to say she was VERY lame and I was waiting for her
to tell me it was "time". My vet rescected the abscess and
suggested I try a long acting steroid like Depo-Medrol. The
University vets. weren't supportive of that and said it probably
wouldn't work, but I thought, what have we got to loose?
A lot of CBC's later, she was stable until 11/29/2001 when
she got another Depo injection. By that time the laminitic
symptoms were improving and she was able to be turned out
in a very small paddock.
Then
we met Dr. Mac Barksdale........ I had paid a lot of money
to another nutrition company to formulate a custom supplement
based on Savvy's hair analysis and still had some of that left.
Treatment
with TF Animal Stress Pack™ began
New Years Day 2002
All
through December 2001 Dr. Mac and I discussed a treatment
plan. On 1/1/2002 I gave Savvy her 1st TF
Stress Pack. We did this for 2 weeks. The blood work was
improving!! At the same time, we started TF
Performance and Show. The results were dramatic.
notes: January
30, 2002
Hematocrit
and Red Cell count CONTINUED to rise. By 1/25/02 the
farrier was able to put shoes with pads on her and she was
walking and turning normally. We were administering Butazolidin
(NSAID) through out January and were able to discontinue it
on February 2, 2002. She was stable enough for me to
take a much needed vacation. Before I left on my trip I administered
7 days of Stress Pack and she was stable with a HCT of 35.8.
I don't know why, but upon my return her HCT had fallen to 32.1 and with much
trepidation, Dr. Mac and I decided to administer the Depo-Medrol (40 mg.).
notes: February
11, 2002/ February 12, 2002
She
remained stable for 5-6 weeks and when the HCT and Red Cells
started to drop out of range I would give another TF Stress
Pack, all the while on the daily 2 scoops recommended dose
of TF Performance and Show. I could get the same result
with the Stress Pack as I did with the steroid injection!! Key
Ingredients
On
April 2, 2002, I had biopsies done on tissue samples
that came back nonmalignant. The Dex Suppression Test for
Cushing's was done on 4/5/02 also negative. Serum
thyroid tests were negative, also. It is now July 12,
2002 and she has been "steroid free" for OVER 120
days.
Notes: May
7, 2002 / June13, 2002 /
June18, 2002 A Quick Time Line
September 10, 2002
January
8, 2003 Savvy and I are back riding 5-6 days a week.
Although jumping was limited to one day a week. She has really
thrived since then.In July of 2002, my vet determined
she was cured of Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia. I
did run a CBC on 2/10/03 and everything was within normal
range. She was quick to regain her stamina and wind.
Notes: January
8, 2003
March
29,2003
Link
to pictures
She
has been steroid free since 2/2002, over one year!
The right front was growing out well and I decided it would be a good idea
to have an updated radiograph of it. My vet did an X-ray on 3/27/03.
He called with the results the next day and was astonished. The scar/crack
was on the surface only and said that there was no indication of any signs
of laminitis whatsoever!
It
looked better than anyone could have imagined, and there were
absolutely NO changes at all!
Our
plans for the Spring and Summer of 2003 are to do a lot of
trail riding and cross country type conditioning. We've got
to get fit for opening meet in October 2003! We'll do some
local hunter shows, too, just to keep her sharp. She really
does love the show ring and I don't want to deprive her of
what she loves to do. It sure is nice to have my horse back!!! I
had hoped to, at the very least, have a pasture ornament. So
every day is a true gift. It just goes to show you that sometimes
truth is stranger than fiction.........
Yes,
this horse is a fighter. Before her illness, she and I had
done things I never thought possible in the show ring. She
was a voracious competitor in the Adult Hunters. She has been
Champion or Reserve Champion at almost every show she's ever
been in. The right front hoof is grown out from the resection
and she is not even wearing a pad on the shoe! It's unlikely
I will show her again; she's earned her retirement. That's
not to say that she couldn't go back to the show ring. She
still looks like she can win the hack!
But
I do think that her recovery from this devastating disease
is all due to the 4Life Research Company and their Transfer
Factor products. I have no intention of removing these products
from her program or the other horses in my care. Needless to
say, I believe that Savvy is the only horse in veterinary history "to
have recovered from THIS horrible disease".
I
would be happy to discuss the benefits of these products with
anyone interested. Many thanks to the Doctors that have developed
these products, and especially, my good friend, Dr. Mac Barksdale.
Respectfully
submitted,
Nan Buckner
Atlanta, GA
autoimmune
diseases are caused when the body produces antibodies
to its own substances. In some blood disorders, antibodies
may be produced against the body's own red and white blood
cells. The body gets mixed signals and it begins attacking
itself..
Why
will the TF Performance and Show™ and the TF Animal Stress
Pack™ work on an autoimmune problem when all modern medicine
has to offer is damaging steroids and immunosuppressive drugs?
It
is called the suppressor fraction: This fraction found
in transfer factor down regulates the immune response when
the threat has been defeated. They are responsible for returning
the immune system to a resting state to await the next threat.
These transfer factors modulate immune system function when
reacting to autoimmune situations where the microbes have "hidden" in
specific tissues and the immune response mistakenly becomes
directed toward "self".
The
Suppressor Fractions of Transfer Factor will do what no drug
in the world can do! It can regulate the immune system and
prevent the body from attacking it's self. At the same time
OTHER fractions build an immune reserve and re-educate or "train" the
immune system to prepare it for attacks by micro organisms.
Learn
about the roles of the other fractions
Another
Auto Immune Equine Success Story - Pemphigus
Foliaceus
The
Role Transfer Factor Plays in the Health of Your Performance
Horse.
Natural
Killer Cell activity by 248% and 269% respectively,
over
the baseline with the use of Transfer Factor Plus
Key
Ingredients
Sign
up for our equine newsletter here!
Recovery
Notes / Updates
Blue Savannah, A.K.A. Savvy.
Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia
January
30, 2002
Good
results today.
Hematocrit was up from >>32.5 to 33.1.
RBC was up from 7.02 to 7.04.
Hemoglobin was up from 11.7 >>to 11.8.
Everything was slightly increased after only 6 days of TF Animal Stress Pack™.
It's
good to know that the TF Animal Stress Pack™ works to
increase these levels, instead of steroids. It appears that
the two weeks of Stress Pack will hold her within normal
limits about 6-8 weeks.
Our
last steroid injection was 11/28/2002, which is about 9 weeks
ago.
I
am excited that I can get effectively the same results from
this as MethlyPrednisolone. Although it IS more expensive
than the $25 steroid injection, I'm glad that we are able
to approach this with a natural substance other that a manufactured,
artificial one. After all, it is so much better for her in
the long run.
On
the subject of the foot, things are improving
remarkably everyday. She is walking normal. NO MORE BUTE.
February
11, 2002
Savvy's
HCT was increased to 34.4, up from 32.5
The TF Animal Stress Pack™ is doing its job, once again!
Hg
and RBC were slightly increased, as well. She has not had
any Bute in over 2 weeks, and it shows a little. She is lame
and legs fill up over night while standing, so I have been
keeping standing wraps on her while in the stall. The swelling
goes down when she's turned out so I'm not too concerned.
February
12, 2002
Savvy
has not been on Bute for almost 3 weeks.
As far as I'm concerned that means I've discontinued it.
The right front hoof is quite sound, growing good horn, nice
and solid,etc.
Quite
amazing how well it has recovered. As far as her mobility,
she is quite mobile. More than the average foundered horse.
She plays with her pasture mates, which is quite a welcome
sight after the depression the anemia caused. As far as the
lameness I mentioned earlier, she walks with a wide spread
of front feet, typical of foundered horses, but, holds her
head higher that when all this first started. I have seen
her trot around a little. There is no real head-bobbing,
so again, I feel this is encouraging. In two days, February
14, 2003 Savvy has been on The TF Animal Stress Pack™ 2
weeks.
May
7, 2002
Did
Hemogram yesterday and things are holding steady.
No TF Animal Stress Pack™ since 4/23/02
Hct was 34.7,
HGB was 11.5
RBC just under normal (barely) at 6.99.
I am VERY encouraged. Savvy's doing quite well.
Last CBC was a week ago Wednesday. All within normal ranges.
Hoof is
almost all the way grown out, there's just a little seedy
stuff around the end of the toe. Farrier believes she will
have a complete recovery. I'm keeping my fingers crossed
about ever jumping again, though. If I can at least trail
ride I will be happy.
We've
been steroid free since 2/20/02
I have administered 3 TF Animal Stress Pack™ since
then.
She looks pretty much back to normal, including her personality.
June13,
2002
I
ran a hemogram a week ago and levels had come up to the following:
HCT 34.7,
RBC 7.29
Hg 11.8.
That was exactly one week after 7 days of TF Animal Stress Pack™
I
am very happy.
Gum color was nice and rosy and she did not appear to be tired or uncomfortable.
Her appetite is always good.
I always keep a few stress packs readily available at the stable if she noticed
her being less that bright, alert, and responsive, and if gum color looked
pale or icteric.
*
Side note, the yearling filly that Savvy goes out with
developed some sort of respiratory virus a few weeks ago.
I was concerned that Savvy's immune system could not handle
it.
She developed a little bit of a runny nose, nothing yellow or smelly, and
has no symptoms of any kind now.
The "crestiness" of
her neck has almost gone away.
The
foot situation is coming along well, also. The
resection has grown out completely and she walking and
turning very well.
No heat in the foot, but still a slight digital pulse.
Quick
Time Line to date: June18, 2002
2/20/02
Last Depo Injection
4/9/02
TF Animal Stress Pack™for 14 days, ending 4/22 -gave
an extra week due to change of residence
5/24
for TF Animal Stress Pack™ 7 days
6/4
Blood work holding
6/17
CBC levels increased! (with levels increased and doing nothing,
that blows my Stress Pack every 30 days theory!)
CBC yesterday: HG 12.6, HCT 36.7, WBC 7.0, RBC 7.85
Additionally I have notice a steady decrease in MCV and MCH. They are very
consistent at 47 and 16.1, respectively and have been since 3/22/02.
I
am so excited I can hardly see straight! I think it's safe
to actually say that WE are beating this.
I
think we can start treating her like a "normal" horse again!!
The foot situation is almost not a problem anymore, too,
so it is my hope that I can start riding her lightly.
September
10, 2002
Things
couldn't be better with Savvy.
I got my local vet to admit that I have cured the Hemolytic Anemia.
I
have only done 2 CBC's in the the last 3 months
We've
had some secondary problems with "White line disease" in
that right front. That crack in the foot that was in the
picture I sent you split and her hoof actually split in two.
The hoof was resceted (again), this time only the horn and
no soft tissue, and patched with Equilox.
She's
getting around quite comfortably and as the weather cools
off, is enjoying being turned out 24-7. The farm owner has
told me, more than once, that she is really kicking up her
heels on these cool mornings. It does my heart good to know
that she is feeling pretty much back to normal. I honestly
never dreamed that that would happen. My farrier seems
to think I will definitely be riding her in 4-6 months. He
is pretty upbeat about the possibility of her being able
to jump again, too.
She
is still getting the TF Performance & Show™ twice daily
in the recommended dose and I gave her Stress Pack for 3
days before her vaccine and 4 days after.
December
7 will be the two year anniversary of our dealing with
Hemolytic Anemia. Although, as I think back to the fall
of 2000, I remember her just not feeling right when
I rode her around the end of November. She had started
losing weight in September. She was anemic then, I'm sure,
and since Hemolytic Anemia doesn't really happen overnight,
I'm sure she was sick long before the symptoms became acute.
So,
it really has been a 2 year ordeal.
I
guess we can close the book on that terrible experience now
and move forward.
January
8, 2003 Riding again
Link
to pictures
Savvy
and I are back riding 5-6 days a week. Although jumping was
limited to one day a week. She has really thrived since then.
In
July of 2002, my vet determined she was cured of Auto Immune
Hemolytic Anemia.
I
did run a CBC on 2/10/03 and everything was within normal
range.
She was quick to regain her stamina and wind.
The
right front hoof still had an open groove where it
was drilled out due to White Line disease and there were
3 metal staples across the groove to stabilize it from
each side moving independently. She was still wearing a
special "4 point rail shoe" to assist in moving the break
over back off the toe. However, she was very comfortable,
was not getting any lameness from the return to work, and
was not on any bute.
Her
whole existence brightened up the day we schooled a whole
jump course! She was back to normal and loving EVERY second
of it. Things were going great.
March
29,2003
She
has been steroid free since 2/2002, over one year!
The
right front was growing out well and I decided it would be
a good idea to have an updated radiograph of it. It had been
since July 2002 that we looked at it and I was curious to
see if there were any changes going on and what really was
the status of that scar/crack.
My
vet did an X-ray on 3/27/03. He called with the results
the next day and was astonished. The scar/crack was on the
surface only and said that there was no indication of any
signs of laminitis whatsoever!
It
looked better than anyone could have imagined, and there
were absolutely NO changes at all!
Our
plans for the Spring and Summer are to do a lot of trail
riding and cross country type conditioning. We've got to
get fit for opening meet in October! We'll do some local
hunter shows, too, just to keep her sharp. She really does
love the show ring and I don't want to deprive her of what
she loves to do. It sure is nice to have my horse back!!! I
had hoped to, at the very least, have a pasture ornament.
So every day is a true gift. It just goes to show you that
sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.........
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