Cardiac arrhythmias identified in horses with duodenitis/proximal jejunitis: six cases (1985-1988).

The research article discusses the correlation between cardiac arrhythmias and duodenitis/proximal jejunitis (DPJ) in horses over a period of three and half years.

Research Methodology

• The study spanned a 3 and half year period and involved a total of 67 horses that were diagnosed with DPJ (duodenitis/proximal jejunitis), a gastrointestinal disorder that commonly affects horses.
• Cardiac arrhythmias in these horses were determined through auscultation, a method of listening to the internal sounds of a patient’s body, primarily used to assess the heart beats and pulses. More specific types of these arrhythmias, including ventricular ectopic depolarizations, atrioventricular conduction disturbances, and regular second-degree atrioventricular blocks were then characterized by electrocardiographic evaluation.

Key Findings

• The study found that six out of the 67 DPJ-diagnosed horses displayed signs of cardiac arrhythmias.
• These arrhythmias were not permanent and showed signs of resolution as the horses recovered from DPJ, reflecting a possible link between the two conditions. However, two horses, one of which died suddenly 66 hours after admission and another that had to be euthanized at the 72-hour mark, did not recover.
• Comparative data analysis between horses with DPJ and cardiac arrhythmias (group 1) and those with DPJ but without arrhythmias (group 2) revealed significant higher levels of serum bicarbonate concentration and serum creatine kinase activity in the former group.

Implications of Findings

• The findings suggest a possible causal relationship between DPJ and cardiac arrhythmias in horses. The return to normal sinus rhythm in the horses that recovered from DPJ strengthens this theory.
• Postmortem examination of the two deceased horses revealed the presence of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. However, the cause of these lesions remains undetermined.
• The differences in serum bicarbonate and creatine kinase activity levels between the two groups of horses also indicate that these biochemical factors may play a role in the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in horses suffering from DPJ.