Identification of Lupus Erythematosus Cells and Ragocytes in Peripheral Blood from a Dog with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A 3-year-old female-intact German Shepherd presented for the evaluation of progressive shifting leg lameness, carpal swelling, and weight loss with a poor appetite since adoption about three months prior. Routine blood smear evaluation, lymph node, and synovial fluid cytologies all revealed rare neutrophils with cytoplasmic inclusions consistent with "Lupus Erythematosus (LE) cells" and "ragocytes". The combination of clinical signs, cytologic findings, and high antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer in the absence of identifiable triggers were consistent with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).