Changes in the SIDActual and SID Effective Values in the Course of Respiratory Acidosis in Horses With Symptomatic Severe Equine Asthma-An Experimental Study.

The research paper focuses on how respiratory acidosis in horses, particularly those with severe equine asthma, impacts the concentration of ions affecting water dissociation. Data was acquired from both afflicted and healthy animals, with corresponding ionic concentrations measured in their blood.

What is Equine Asthma and Respiratory Acidosis?

• Equine asthma syndrome is an airway disease encountered typically in older horses, characterized by an allergic and inflammatory reaction that affects their respiratory system.
• Respiratory acidosis is a condition caused by alveolar hypoventilation, which leads to an imbalance between the acid and the base in the body, shifting towards acidosis.

Investigation and Methodology

• The study involved 16 Warmblood, mixed breed horses of varying genders with a documented history of severe equine asthma. As a control group, the study included 10 healthy horses who showed no signs of the disease.
• Blood samples, both arterial and venous, were collected from all the horses involved in the study.
• Various properties such as pH, pO, pCO, and HCO were examined in the arterial blood. In the venous blood, levels of electrolytes and proteins (Na, K, Cl, albumin, P) were assessed.
• From the gathered data, several calculations were made, including the anion gap (AG), modified AG, actual strong ion difference (SID), weak non-volatile acids, and effective strong ion difference values for the horses.

Findings of the Study

• The horses with a history of severe equine asthma were diagnosed with systemic, compensatory respiratory acidosis.
• The concentration of sodium (Na) in the blood serum of the study group was significantly higher, while the concentration of chloride (Cl) was considerably lower than the controls.
• Both SID and SID values were also significantly higher in asthmatic horses than in healthy controls.
• The elevated SID and SID values indicate alterations in ionic concentrations that affect the water dissociation process due to respiratory acidosis.

Significance of the Study

• The finding that SID and SID values may change with respiratory acidosis in horses offers a new potential avenue for diagnosis and treatment methodologies.
• As these values seem to indicate alterations in ionic concentrations, they may give insightful information about the onset and progress of respiratory acidosis, thus aiding in targeted treatment approaches.
• The results also support the need for further research into the potential applications and impacts of SID and SID values in diagnosing and treating respiratory acidosis in horses.