Acute kidney injury mediated by oxidative stress in Egyptian horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis.

This research paper aims to investigate the role of oxidative stress in causing acute kidney injury in Egyptian horses suffering from exertional rhabdomyolysis. The study found a correlation between certain biochemical variables and severity of the disease, suggesting oxidative stress plays a significant part in kidney injury associated with the condition.

Introduction to the Study

• The study was conducted to understand the role of oxidative stress in the occurrence of acute kidney failure in Egyptian horses afflicted with exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER).
• Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a condition in horses where muscle damage happens due to intense excercise, leading to release of by-products into the bloodstream that can harm the kidneys.

Methodology of the Study

• The study observed 31 Egyptian Baladi horses diagnosed with ER based on their medical history, physical examination, and elevated levels of plasma creatine kinase (CK) and urine myoglobin.
• The horses were divided into two groups based on the severity of their conditions: one with mild signs and plasma CK less than 60,000 IU/L and the other with obvious signs and plasma CK greater than 100,000 IU/L.

Findings of the Study

• The study revealed that plasma creatol (CTL), a waste product of muscle tissue breakdown, is significantly positively correlated with other plasma components, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), methyguanididne (MG), and CK. This indicates an increase in CTL corresponded with an increase in these markers.
• This increase was also extended to urine glucose, urine protein, renal failure index (RFI), and urine sodium. The elevated levels potentially suggest kidney damage and failure.
• Conversely, a negative correlation was found with total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Vitamin C, urine creatinine, urine/plasma creatinine ratio, and urine/plasma urea ratio, indicating that as CTL levels increase, these antioxidant and renal efficiency markers decrease.

Conclusion of the Study

• The study suggests that an increase in oxidative stress, related to muscle tissue breakdown, plays a significant role in acute kidney injury in horses suffering from exertional rhabdomyolysis.
• The findings highlight potential biochemical markers for assessing the severity of ER in horses and underline the need for treatment methods to manage oxidative stress in these animals to prevent kidney damage.