A retrospective analysis of hepatic injury in horses with proximal enteritis (1984-2002).
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that horses with proximal enteritis (PE) are predisposed to hepatic injury. We also determined whether the presence of liver injury in horses with PE was associated with other clinicopathologic abnormalities or affected outcome. The medical records of all horses admitted for evaluation of colic and gastric reflux between 1984 and 2002 were reviewed. Horses were considered to have PE if the diagnosis was made at surgery or postmortem examination or if they had clinical findings consistent with PE. Horses with a small intestinal strangulating obstruction (SISO) were used as the control group. Historic and clinicopathologic data were collected for each horse. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, parametric and nonparametric analyses, and logistic regression. Horses with PE had significantly higher serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities than horses with SISO (P < .05). Horses with PE were 12.1 times more likely to have high GGT activities than were horses with SISO. Horses with PE had an increased risk of at least 1 hepatic enzyme being increased if a high anion gap or large volume of reflux was present. Our conclusion is that horses with PE are more likely to have hepatic injury than horses with SISO. The mechanism of hepatic injury may involve ascending infection from the common bile duct, absorption of endotoxin or inflammatory mediators from the portal circulation, or hepatic hypoxia resulting from systemic inflammation and endotoxemic shock.
Publication Date: 2003-12-09 PubMed ID: 14658728DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02530.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines the possibility of liver damage in horses affected by proximal enteritis, accounting for potential additional medical abnormalities and how these influence the outcome. It suggests that horses with proximal enteritis are more prone to liver injury than those with a small intestinal strangulating obstruction.
Research Methodology
- The research was based on a comprehensive analysis of the medical records of horses evaluated for colic and gastric reflux from 1984 to 2002.
- To determine the presence of proximal enteritis, the researchers relied on diagnoses made at surgery or post-mortem examinations, as well as clinical signs.
- Horses diagnosed with small intestinal strangulating obstruction (SISO), a severe form of gastrointestinal trouble, were used as a control group.
- Clinical and historic data were collected and analyzed by descriptive statistics, parametric and nonparametric analyses, and logistic regression.
Findings
- Horses with proximal enteritis showed higher serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) than those with SISO; these higher enzymatic activities are indicative of liver injury.
- The study found that horses with proximal enteritis were 12.1 times more likely to have high GGT activities, suggesting a higher predisposition to liver damage.
- Horses with proximal enteritis also had an increased chance of at least one hepatic enzyme being elevated when a high anion gap or large volume of reflux was present.
Conclusion
- Ultimately, the research concluded that horses suffering from proximal enteritis are more likely to experience liver injuries compared to those with SISO.
- The causes of such liver damage might involve ascending infection from the common bile duct, absorption of harmful substances (endotoxin or inflammatory mediators) from the portal circulation, or hepatic hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply to the liver), which could result from systemic inflammation and severe infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Davis JL, Blikslager AT, Catto K, Jones SL.
(2003).
A retrospective analysis of hepatic injury in horses with proximal enteritis (1984-2002).
J Vet Intern Med, 17(6), 896-901.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02530.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acid-Base Equilibrium / physiology
- Alanine Transaminase / blood
- Animals
- Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
- Blood Cell Count / veterinary
- Enteritis / complications
- Enteritis / enzymology
- Enteritis / veterinary
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horse Diseases / enzymology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Liver Diseases / enzymology
- Liver Diseases / etiology
- Liver Diseases / veterinary
- Logistic Models
- Retrospective Studies
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Raspa F, Chessa S, Bergero D, Sacchi P, Ferrocino I, Cocolin L, Corvaglia MR, Moretti R, Cavallini D, Valle E. Microbiota characterization throughout the digestive tract of horses fed a high-fiber vs. a high-starch diet. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1386135.
- Satué K, Miguel-Pastor L, Chicharro D, Gardón JC. Hepatic Enzyme Profile in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 29;12(7).
- Raspa F, Dinardo FR, Vervuert I, Bergero D, Bottero MT, Pattono D, Dalmasso A, Vinassa M, Valvassori E, Bruno E, De Palo P, Valle E. A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022 Mar;106(2):313-326.
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- DeNotta SL, Divers TJ. Clinical Pathology in the Adult Sick Horse: The Gastrointestinal System and Liver. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Apr;36(1):105-120.
- Arroyo LG, Gomez DE, Martins C. Equine duodenitis-proximal jejunitis: A review. Can Vet J 2018 May;59(5):510-517.
- Arroyo LG, Costa MC, Guest BB, Plattner BL, Lillie BN, Weese JS. Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis in Horses After Experimental Administration of Clostridium difficile Toxins. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Jan;31(1):158-163.
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