Analysis of hemostasis in horses with colic.
Abstract: Eight tests of hemostasis were measured in 233 horses with colic. Blood samples were obtained at admission and for 4 consecutive days of hospitalization. Data were analyzed retrospectively by outcome, by broad-category diagnosis group, by small intestinal disorder, and by smaller categories for comparing specific diseases. Nonsurviving horses and horses with the most severe forms of intestinal ischemia had changes interpreted as hypercoagulative, the intensity of which was increased on the first and second mornings (sample times 2 and 3) after admission, when most significant differences for results of specific tests were detected. Nonsurvivors had decreased antithrombin III activity and prolonged prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times; those with strangulating obstructions also had decreased protein C and plasminogen activities. During hospitalization and with survival, these changes tended to reverse. In most horses, regardless of diagnosis or outcome, concentration of fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen, and alpha 2-antiplasmin activity increased over time. Whether these changes reflected specific effects of colic or of the acute-phase response was not determined. In comparisons of small intestinal disorders (proximal enteritis, strangulations, and impactions), diagnostically distinguishing features were not found. Likewise, in comparisons of specific diseases (small vs large intestinal impaction, proximal enteritis vs colitis, small vs large intestinal obstruction), diagnostically distinguishing features were not found.
Publication Date: 1993-09-01 PubMed ID: 8407538
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article focuses on examining the status of hemostasis, the process that stops bleeding, in horses suffering from colic. Eight hemostasis tests were conducted on 233 horses over four days of hospitalization. The results revealed that horses with severe intestinal ischemia and those who did not survive had heightened evidence of blood clotting. Additionally, key changes were noticed in non-survivors and horses with strangulated obstructions.
Research Methodology
- The researchers collected blood samples from 233 horses diagnosed with colic both on their admission to the hospital and in the four consecutive days of their stay.
- Eight different tests were conducted on these samples to scrutinize the state of hemostasis in the horses.
- The data collected was retrospectively analyzed, according to the horse’s outcome post-treatment, diagnosis group, and specific disease presence.
Findings and Analysis
- The research identified that non-surviving horses and those with severe intestinal ischemia had hypercoagulative conditions, which suggest an increased tendency for blood clotting.
- These conditions were noticeably intense on the first two days after admission, where most of the significant deviations in the test results were observed.
- Non-survivors were found to demonstrate decreased antithrombin III activity and extended prothrombin times, signaling slower blood clotting. Similarly, horses with strangulating obstructions showed reduced protein C and plasminogen activities.
- Over the course of hospitalization and in surviving horses, these deviations began to reverse, moving closer to normal levels.
Additional Observations
- Regardless of diagnosis or outcome, there was an increase in the concentration of fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen, and alpha 2-antiplasmin activity over time in most horses.
- No clear determination could be made as to whether these changes were a specific effect of colic or part of the acute-phase response to infection or inflammation.
- In comparing different types of small intestinal disorders or specific diseases, the research could not identify any distinct diagnostic features.
Cite This Article
APA
Prasse KW, Topper MJ, Moore JN, Welles EG.
(1993).
Analysis of hemostasis in horses with colic.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 203(5), 685-693.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antithrombin III / analysis
- Colic / blood
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / analysis
- Fibrinogen / analysis
- Hemostasis
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horses
- Intestinal Obstruction / blood
- Intestinal Obstruction / mortality
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Intestine, Large / blood supply
- Intestine, Small / blood supply
- Ischemia / blood
- Ischemia / mortality
- Ischemia / veterinary
- Partial Thromboplastin Time / veterinary
- Plasminogen / analysis
- Prognosis
- Protein C / analysis
- Prothrombin Time / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- alpha-2-Antiplasmin / analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Blangy-Letheule A, Vergnaud A, Dupas T, Rozec B, Lauzier B, Leroux AA. Spontaneous Sepsis in Adult Horses: From Veterinary to Human Medicine Perspectives.. Cells 2023 Mar 30;12(7).
- Bauquier JR, Forbes G, Nath L, Tudor E, Bailey SR. Plasma HMGB-1 and Nucleosome Concentrations in Horses with Colic and Healthy Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):260-8.
- Cesarini C, Cotovio M, Ríos J, Armengou L, Jose-Cunilleras E. Association Between Necropsy Evidence of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Hemostatic Variables Before Death in Horses With Colic.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):269-75.
- Pihl TH, Scheepers E, Sanz M, Goddard A, Page P, Toft N, Andersen PH, Jacobsen S. Influence of disease process and duration on acute phase proteins in serum and peritoneal fluid of horses with colic.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):651-8.
- Rouleau G, Babkine M, Dubreuil P. Factors influencing the development of jugular thrombophlebitis in cattle and comparison of 2 types of catheter.. Can Vet J 2003 May;44(5):399-404.
- Sandholm M, Vidovic A, Puotunen-Reinert A, Sankari S, Nyholm K, Rita H. D-dimer improves the prognostic value of combined clinical and laboratory data in equine gastrointestinal colic.. Acta Vet Scand 1995;36(2):255-72.
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