Association of admission L-lactate concentration in hospitalised equine neonates with presenting complaint, periparturient events, clinical diagnosis and outcome: a prospective multicentre study.
Abstract: Admission L-lactate concentration is a useful and commonly measured biomarker not previously prospectively evaluated in a large multicentre study of critically ill neonatal foals. Objective: To evaluate overall outcome and the association of survival and L-lactate concentration at admission ([LAC]ADMIT) by periparturient history, presenting complaint and clinicians' major diagnosis for ill neonatal foals. Methods: Thirteen university and private equine referral hospitals enrolled 643 foals over the 2008 foaling season. Case details, historical, clinical and clinicopathological data were entered into standardised spreadsheets then unified for analysis. Results: Overall survival was 79% (505/643). Risk of nonsurvival increased with each 1 mmol/l increase in [LAC]ADMIT (odds ratio 1.14, P < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure had a small (r2 = 19.1) but significant (P < 0.001) association with [LAC]ADMIT. Foals experiencing known dystocia or premature placental separation had increased [LAC]ADMIT (P < 0.001). Single umbilical problems (excluding uroperitoneum), meconium impaction only and failure of passive transfer of immunity only had 100% survival. Six clinicians' major diagnoses had increased odds of nonsurvival for each 1 mmol/l increase in [LAC]ADMIT: 'sepsis'; 'unspecified enterocolitis'; 'unspecified colic'; 'unspecified trauma'; 'immune related (not failure of passive transfer of immunity)' and 'respiratory only'. Conclusions: Survival of critically ill foals is good but varies with peripartum history, presenting complaint and clinicians' major diagnosis. L-lactate concentration at admission proves its utility as a valuable prognostic biomarker in neonatal foals and its utility appears to vary with peripartum history and clinicians' major diagnosis.
Publication Date: 2012-05-19 PubMed ID: 22594028DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00509.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
Summary
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The research paper is about a study on the correlation between the concentration of L-lactate at admission and the outcome of hospitalised newborn horses (neonatal foals), considering factors like per-parturient history, primary concern, and clinical diagnosis.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The main purpose of this research was to assess the overall outcome and link survival to the levels of L-lactate, a common biomarker, at admission.
- The study involved 13 university and private equine referral hospitals that enrolled 643 neonatal foals over the 2008 foaling season.
- The standardisation of case details, historical, clinical, and clinicopathological data, was an essential part of the methodology.
Study Results
- Out of 643 foals, about 79% survived, indicating that the survival rate of critically ill foals is relatively high.
- Each 1 mmol/l increase in the concentration of L-lactate at admission ([LAC]ADMIT) increased the risk of non-survival suggesting a significant correlation between the two.
- The study also showed a small yet substantial link between mean arterial pressure and [LAC]ADMIT.
- Foals that experienced difficult birth (dystocia) or premature placental separation had increased [LAC]ADMIT, indicating that these complications might elevate L-lactate levels.
- The study showed a 100% survival rate in cases related to single umbilical problems, meconium impaction, or a failure of passive transfer of immunity.
- Some major diagnoses (sepsis, unspecified enterocolitis, unspecified colic, unspecified trauma, immune-related – excluding failure of passive transfer of immunity, respiratory-only) were linked with increasing odds of non-survival for each 1 mmol/l increase in [LAC]ADMIT.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the survival of critically ill foals is good but can be influenced by peripartum history, presenting complaint, and clinicians’ primary diagnosis.
- Furthermore, it was concluded that the measurement of L-lactate concentration at admission serves as a valuable prognostic biomarker in neonatal foals, and its utility depends on peripartum history and primary clinical diagnosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Borchers A, Wilkins PA, Marsh PM, Axon JE, Read J, Castagnetti C, Pantaleon L, Clark C, Qura'n L, Belgrave R, Trachsel D, Levy M, Bedenice D, Saulez MN, Boston RC.
(2012).
Association of admission L-lactate concentration in hospitalised equine neonates with presenting complaint, periparturient events, clinical diagnosis and outcome: a prospective multicentre study.
Equine Vet J Suppl(41), 57-63.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00509.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Parturition
- Pregnancy
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Martín-Cuervo M, Gracia-Calvo LA, Macías-García B, Ezquerra LJ, Barrera R. Evaluation of Eosinopenia as a SIRS Biomarker in Critically Ill Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 15;12(24).
- Stefanovski D, Wilkins PA, Boston RC. Modeling Challenge Data to Quantify Endogenous Lactate Production. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021;12:656054.
- Colmer SF, Luethy D, Abraham M, Stefanovski D, Hurcombe SD. Utility of cell-free DNA concentrations and illness severity scores to predict survival in critically ill neonatal foals. PLoS One 2021;16(4):e0242635.
- Weaver LF, Boileau MJ, Gilliam LL, Taylor JD. Characterization of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality of goat kids born to does with pregnancy toxemia. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1155-1163.
- Furr M, McKenzie H 3rd. Factors associated with the risk of positive blood culture in neonatal foals presented to a referral center (2000-2014). J Vet Intern Med 2020 Nov;34(6):2738-2750.
- Di Lorenzo E, Rossi R, Ferrari F, Martini V, Comazzi S. Blood L-Lactate Concentration as an Indicator of Outcome in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Admitted to a Wildlife Rescue Center. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 20;10(6).
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- Wong DM, Ruby RE, Dembek KA, Barr BS, Reuss SM, Magdesian KG, Olsen E, Burns T, Slovis NM, Wilkins PA. Evaluation of updated sepsis scoring systems and systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and their association with sepsis in equine neonates. J Vet Intern Med 2018 May;32(3):1185-1193.
- Cole GC, Tordiffe ASW, Steenkamp G. Assessment of a portable lactate meter for field use in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2017 Nov 10;84(1):e1-e10.
- Gomez DE, Biermann NM, Sanchez LC. Physicochemical Approach to Determine the Mechanism for Acid-Base Disorders in 793 Hospitalized Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1395-402.
- Wilkins PA, Sheahan BJ, Vander Werf KA, Castagnetti C, Hardy J, Schoster A, Boston RC. Preliminary investigation of the area under the L-lactate concentration-time curve (LACArea) in critically ill equine neonates. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):659-62.
- Hemberg E, Morrell JM. Case Report: Diagnosis and treatment of equine ascending placentitis: compilation of 17 case reports. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1591452.
- Parra MT, Ayala MSF. Retrospective five-year study of equine casuistry in a Colombian perinatology center. Braz J Vet Med 2025;47:e005824.
- Bernick A, Krohn J, Wehrend A. Patent Urachus and Associated Comorbidities in 101 Newborn Foals: A Retrospective Study. Vet Med Sci 2025 May;11(3):e70379.
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