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Veterinary clinical pathology2019; 48(3); 441-448; doi: 10.1111/vcp.12779

Clinical, hematologic, hemostatic, and serum biochemical findings related to survival in Arabian horses with colic.

Abstract: The efficacy of clinical examinations, and hematologic, hemostatic, and serum biochemical assessments to determine appropriate early medical or surgical therapy in Arabian horses with colic have not been well-described. Objective: We aimed to evaluate clinical and hematologic findings, coagulation-fibrinolytic parameters, and organ dysfunction markers in association with survival in horses with colic. Methods: Seventeen Arabian horses with colic and ten healthy horses were enrolled. After clinical examinations, including heart rates (HRs), capillary refill times (CRTs), abdominal sounds, rectal palpations, and nasogastric (NG) reflux assessments in both healthy and diseased horses, blood samples were collected and hematologic parameters, coagulation indices such as the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma d-dimer (PDD), platelet count, fibrinogen, and hepatorenal biomarkers were measured. Based on the outcomes, horses with colic were divided into survival (10) and nonsurvival (7) groups, and all mentioned parameters were compared with the control group horses. Results: Unlike HRs, CRTs, and abdominal sounds, rectal palpations (57.1%) and NG reflux (28.6%) findings were least sensitive in being able to determine survival. At least three of the five coagulation indices were significantly abnormal (prolonged PT, increased PDD, and decreased plasma fibrinogen) in 71.4% of the horses in the nonsurvival group compared with the control and survival groups. Significantly increased urea, creatinine, and bilirubin levels, and AST activities were also observed in the survival group compared with the control and nonsurvival groups. Conclusions: The combination of prolonged PT, increased PDD, and hypofibrinogenemia could be a reliable predictor of survival in horses with colic. The significant renal and hepatic dysfunctions in nonsurviving horses with colic appeared to be consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and a grave prognosis.
© 2019 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
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Publication Date: 2019-09-17 PubMed ID: 31531891DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12779Google 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 research explores clinical, hematologic, and biochemical factors that determine the survival of Arabian horses suffering from colic. It finds a correlation between certain coagulation indices and organ dysfunction markers and the likelihood of surviving colic in horses.

Objective

The main aim of this study was to investigate how several clinical and hematologic factors, coagulation-fibrinolytic parameters, and organ dysfunction markers are related to the survival chances of Arabian horses suffering from colic. The evaluations were done to determine the best and early medical or surgical therapies suitable for these conditions.

Methods

  • The study involved 17 Arabian horses diagnosed with colic and 10 healthy horses for comparison. It performed various clinical checks such as heart rates (HRs), capillary refill times (CRTs), abdominal sounds, rectal palpations, and nasogastric (NG) reflux assessments.
  • Blood samples were then collected for further hematologic evaluations. These included checks for coagulation indices like prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), plasma d-dimer (PDD), platelet count, and fibrinogen. Organ health was verified by measuring hepatorenal biomarkers.
  • Based on the outcomes, the horses were divided into two groups, survival and nonsurvival. The parameters were then compared against those from the control group.

Results

  • The results showed that rectal palpation and NG reflux were least sensitive in predicting survival. However, the coagulation indices, specifically prolonged PT, increased PDD, and decreased fibrinogen, were significantly abnormal in about 71.4% of the nonsurviving horses.
  • Additionally, levels of urea, creatinine, and bilirubin were observed to be significantly higher in the survival group compared to the control and nonsurvival groups. This indicated major hepatic and renal dysfunctions in the nonsurviving horses.

Conclusions

The research concluded that a combination of prolonged PT, increased PDD, and hypofibrinogenemia could be a powerful predictor of survival in horses with colic. The prominent renal and hepatic dysfunctions observed in non-surviving horses with colic were consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and indicated a poor prognosis. The research provides useful information for the early diagnosis and management of colic in Arabian horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Nikvand AA, Jalali SM, Ghadrdan Mashhadi A, Razi Jalali M, Hassanpour Amirabadi S. (2019). Clinical, hematologic, hemostatic, and serum biochemical findings related to survival in Arabian horses with colic. Vet Clin Pathol, 48(3), 441-448. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12779

Publication

Veterinary clinical pathology
ISSN: 1939-165X
NlmUniqueID: 9880575
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 3
Pages: 441-448

Researcher Affiliations

Nikvand, Ali Abbas
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Jalali, Seyedeh Missagh
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Ghadrdan Mashhadi, Alireza
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Razi Jalali, Mohammad
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Hassanpour Amirabadi, Soroush
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / veterinary
  • Blood Coagulation Tests / veterinary
  • Colic / blood
  • Colic / diagnosis
  • Colic / physiopathology
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Female
  • Hematologic Tests / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time / veterinary
  • Prognosis
  • Prothrombin Time / veterinary
  • Survival Analysis

Grant Funding

  • 96.3.24.23689- 96.4.3 / Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Honoré ML, Pihl TH, Busk-Anderson TM, Flintrup LL, Nielsen LN. Investigation of two different human d-dimer assays in the horse. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jun 15;18(1):227.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03313-5pubmed: 35705958google scholar: lookup
  2. Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17141pubmed: 39005215google scholar: lookup
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