Biochemical markers of cardiac injury in normal, surviving septic, or nonsurviving septic neonatal foals.

The research is on the existence of biochemical markers of cardiac injury in septic and healthy newborn horses. The study found that these markers are present in septic foals, indicating myocardial damage, but this did not correlate with survival rates in these foals.

Initial Research Objectives

• The study aims to establish the typical levels of biochemical markers for cardiac injury, specifically cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and the cardiac isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CKMB), in healthy, newborn foals.
• The researchers then planned to compare these ‘healthy’ values with those discovered in septic neonatal foals in a hospital setting, helping to gauge the effect of sepsis on these biochemical markers.

Methodology and Findings

• The 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentile values for cTnI and CKMB were first established in the healthy-foal population, providing benchmarks against which to compare the septic foal values.
• The researchers found that 83% of the values for cTnT in healthy foals were below the lower limit of detection of the assay used, suggesting generally low levels of cTnT.
• In contrast, cTnT was detected more frequently in septic foals, indicating a potential correlation between the presence of this biomarker and illness.
• The percentile values for cTnI and CKMB in the septic foal population were also established, allowing for direct comparison with the healthy foals.
• Statistically significant higher values were identified for cTnT and CKMB in septic foals compared to healthy ones, suggesting cardiac stress or injury is likely present in septic foals.

Conclusions

• The results indicate that myocardial injury, as suggested by the elevated levels of biochemical markers, does occur during sepsis in newborn foals.
• Contrary to initial hypothesis, these cardiac injuries did not appear to have a correlation with survival rates, with no significant difference found between surviving and non-surviving septic foals.
• The findings suggest a new area of exploration in neonatal foal health concerning myocardial injury and the potential impact on treatment and prognosis.