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Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(3); 471-476; doi: 10.1111/evj.13196

Aortic, common carotid and external iliac artery arterial wall stiffness parameters in horses: Inter-day and inter-observer and intra-observer measurement variability.

Abstract: In human medicine, local and regional arterial wall stiffness (AWS) parameters are routinely used to assess the vascular health. In horses, information regarding reproducibility of ultrasonographically derived AWS parameters is lacking. Objective: To evaluate the inter-day and inter-observer and intra-observer measurement variability of both local and regional AWS parameters in horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: In 10 healthy, adult Warmblood horses, B-, M-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound images were collected on two different days from aorta, cranial and caudal common carotid arteries and external iliac artery. Heart rate and noninvasive blood pressure were recorded simultaneously. From blinded data, diastolic and systolic vessel lumen areas and diameters were measured from B/M-mode images and the velocity of the pressure wave was determined by pulsed-wave Doppler spectra. From each horse, one examination was measured again by the same observer and by a second, independent observer. Local and regional AWS parameters were calculated and inter-day and inter-observer and intra-observer measurement coefficient of variation (CV) were assessed. Results: Low CV was found for both arterial diameter and lumen area measurements. Moderate to high CV was found for local AWS parameters, while regional AWS parameters had low CV. Conclusions: The number of horses investigated was too low to obtain reference values. The inter-operator variability was not evaluated. Conclusions: Our results show good reproducibility of aortic, carotid and external iliac artery diameter and area measurements using both B- and M-mode ultrasonography. Nevertheless, the variability of the derived local AWS parameters was relatively high. Therefore, local AWS parameters might be less suitable for follow-up studies, although they might be useful for population studies. On the other hand, regional AWS parameters showed low CV, making them valuable for both follow-up and population studies.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-11-20 PubMed ID: 31648382DOI: 10.1111/evj.13196Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study involves examining the reproducibility of arterial wall stiffness (AWS) measurements in horses using ultrasonography methods. Although results show variability in local AWS measurements, regional AWS parameters demonstrated good reliability, thus could be a valuable tool in horse healthcare studies.

Methodology

  • The experiment involved 10 healthy, adult Warmblood horses.
  • B-mode, M-mode, and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound images of the aorta, cranial and caudal common carotid arteries and external iliac artery were collected on two separate days.
  • Heart rate and noninvasive blood pressure were recorded simultaneously.
  • Diastolic and systolic vessel lumen areas, diameters, and the velocity of the pressure wave were measured from the ultrasound images and Doppler spectra.
  • One examination from each horse was re-measured by the same observer and a second, independent observer to evaluate the inter-day, inter-observer and intra-observer measurement variability.
  • The local and regional AWS parameters were then calculated and a coefficient of variation (CV) was assessed.

Results

  • The arterial diameter and lumen area measurements demonstrated low CV, suggesting good reproducibility.
  • The local AWS parameters showed moderate to high CV, indicating variability in measurements.
  • Regional AWS parameters, on the other hand, exhibited low CV, indicating good consistency and reproducibility in measurements.

Conclusions

  • While the local AWS parameters showed variability and might be less suitable for follow-up studies, they could still be useful for population studies.
  • Regional AWS parameters, with their low CV, seem valuable for both follow-up and population studies.
  • The study admits limitations in terms of the number of horses investigated which was too low to obtain reference values, and that inter-operator variability was not evaluated.
  • In conclusion, the study asserts the potential of ultrasonographic AWS measurements as a tool for veterinary health assessment, especially with regards to regional AWS parameters.

Cite This Article

APA
Vera L, De Clercq D, Paulussen E, Van Steenkiste G, Decloedt A, Chiers K, van Loon G. (2019). Aortic, common carotid and external iliac artery arterial wall stiffness parameters in horses: Inter-day and inter-observer and intra-observer measurement variability. Equine Vet J, 52(3), 471-476. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13196

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 3
Pages: 471-476

Researcher Affiliations

Vera, L
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
De Clercq, D
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Paulussen, E
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Van Steenkiste, G
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Decloedt, A
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Chiers, K
  • Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
van Loon, G
  • Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Aorta
  • Carotid Artery, Common
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Iliac Artery
  • Observer Variation
  • Reproducibility of Results

Grant Funding

  • 1134917N / Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen)
  • 1S56217N / Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen)

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Lauteri E, Mariella J, Beccati F, Roelfsema E, Castagnetti C, Pepe M, Peric T, Barbato O, Montillo M, Rouge S, Freccero F. Adrenal Gland Ultrasonographic Measurements and Plasma Hormone Concentrations in Clinically Healthy Newborn Thoroughbred and Standardbred Foals. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 19;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061832pubmed: 34205258google scholar: lookup
  2. Vera L, De Clercq D, Van Steenkiste G, Decloedt A, Chiers K, van Loon G. Differences in ultrasound-derived arterial wall stiffness parameters and noninvasive blood pressure between Friesian horses and Warmblood horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):893-901.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.15705pubmed: 32032455google scholar: lookup
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