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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 15(1); doi: 10.3390/ani15010012

Clinicopathologic Parameters of Peritoneal Fluid as Predictors of Gastrointestinal Lesions, Complications, and Outcomes in Equine Colic Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract: Neutrophil characteristics in peritoneal fluid (PF) may aid in diagnosing and treating specific colic lesions and complications. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate quantitative PF leukocyte values, as well as PF total protein (TP) and lactate, for associations with diagnosis, morbidity, and mortality in horses with acute colic. Three hundred and forty-two horses that presented to one institution between January 2010-2020 for the evaluation of acute colic were included. The PF total nucleated cell count (TNCC), % and total neutrophil counts, total protein (TP), and lactate were analyzed for associations with lesion location and type, the development of postoperative reflux (POR) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and survival to discharge via Kruskal-Wallis testing. Horses with strangulating lesions had higher PF % neutrophils, neutrophil count, and TNCC compared to non-strangulating lesions. The development of SIRS or POR was associated with higher PF TNCC, total neutrophil count, TP, and lactate. Horses that did not survive to discharge had increased PF % neutrophils, neutrophil count, TP, lactate, and ratio of PF-to-systemic TP than those that survived via univariable analysis. Identified associations between increased PF neutrophils and the development of POR and SIRS warrant further investigation to better understand their role in the pathogenesis of equine colic and potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-24 PubMed ID: 39794955PubMed Central: PMC11718766DOI: 10.3390/ani15010012Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research investigated the usefulness of parameters in the peritoneal fluid of horses suffering from colic in predicting the type of gastrointestinal lesion, complications, and survival. Parameters such as leukocyte count, total protein (TP) and lactate were evaluated and potential targets for therapeutic intervention were discussed.

Research Objective

  • The main objective of this research was to examine whether analysis of peritoneal fluid (PF) could assist in diagnosis and treatment of equine colic. This was accomplished by studying the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the PF, alongside total protein and lactate levels.

The Research Process and Findings

  • The researchers investigated the cases of 342 horses which had been presented for evaluation of acute colic from January 2010 to 2020.
  • Parameters analysed in the horses’ PF include total nucleated cell count (TNCC), percentage and total neutrophil counts, total protein, and lactate levels. These parameters were analysed for their correlation with gastrointestinal lesion type and location, post-operative reflux (POR) occurence, the onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and survival outcomes.
  • Through the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test, it was found that horses with strangulating lesions exhibited higher counts of neutrophils, TNCC and higher percentage neutrophils in their PF compared to horses with non-strangulating lesions.
  • The onset of SIRS or POR was linked with higher PF TNCC, total neutrophil count, TP, and lactate levels. Horses that did not survive to discharge manifested increased PF neutrophil percentages, neutrophil count, TP, lactate, and a higher PF-to-systemic TP ratio than those that survived.

Implications of the Findings

  • The established correlations between increased PF neutrophils and the development of POR and SIRS have suggested potential avenues of further investigation.
  • The findings could contribute to a better understanding of equine colic’s pathogenesis and help in identifying potential targets for medicinal intervention.

Despite the significant findings, this retrospective study requires follow-up research for conclusive insights into the role of neutrophils and other elements in PF in the occurrence and treatment of equine colic.

Cite This Article

APA
Martin E, Sarkan K, Viall A, Hostetter S, Epstein K. (2024). Clinicopathologic Parameters of Peritoneal Fluid as Predictors of Gastrointestinal Lesions, Complications, and Outcomes in Equine Colic Patients: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel), 15(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010012

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1

Researcher Affiliations

Martin, Emily
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
Sarkan, Kate
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Viall, Austin
  • Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Hostetter, Shannon
  • Department of Pathology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Epstein, Kira
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Nocera I, Cingottini D, Di Franco C, Sala G, Bindi F, Spadari A, Rinnovati R, Vitale V, Jose-Cunilleras E, Sgorbini M. In-Depth Analysis of the Prognostic Factors Associated with Short-Term Outcome in Equine Colic Patients: Multicentric Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2026 Feb 5;16(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16030496pubmed: 41681477google scholar: lookup
  2. Bishop RC, Arrington JV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM. Alterations in the Peritoneal Fluid Proteome of Horses with Colic Attributed to Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Intestinal Disease. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 30;15(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15111604pubmed: 40509070google scholar: lookup
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