Clinicopathological features of equine primary hepatic disease: a review of 50 cases.

This research studies the clinicopathological features of primary liver disease in horses. The study highlights that 50% of the subjects exhibited signs such as dull behavior, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, brain dysfunction, and weight loss, with higher levels of certain liver enzymes observed in severe cases.

Overview of the Study

• The research presents a review of 50 cases of equine hepatic or liver diseases, with the purpose of understanding the clinical and pathological characteristics of the diseases.
• It does so by looking into the wide range of clinical signs exhibited by the horses and finds at least half displayed symptoms such as dull demeanour, anorexic tendencies, abdominal pain, cerebral dysfunction, and/or weight loss.
• The study identifies and records life-threatening complications arising from hepatic failure like gastric impaction, bilateral laryngeal paralysis, and coagulopathy, and the frequency of these cases.

Key Findings

• All the cases had high activities of liver enzymes namely gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Most of the cases also showed high activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and high concentrations of bile acids. These biochemical abnormalities may be indicative of liver injury or malfunction.
• Fewer horses showed abnormal concentrations of bilirubin, albumin, and globulin. These substances are often associated with liver function, thus their abnormal concentration could be indicative of liver problems as well.
• The horses that were euthanized or died had higher concentrations of GGT, GLDH, and bile acids, suggesting these factors may be predictive of morbidity or mortality.
• 18 cases exhibited signs of hepatic encephalopathy, a decline in brain function due to severe liver disease. All these cases had plasma ammonia levels greater than 90 micromol/litre, although this was not found to correlate significantly with the clinical severity of the condition.
• Half of the cases with hepatic encephalopathy were found to be hyperglycaemic, indicating high levels of blood sugar, but none were found to be hypoglycaemic or had abnormally low levels of plasma urea.

Implications of the Research

• The clinical signs and biochemical data presented in the study can provide valuable insights for equine practitioners. It offers potential markers that could aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of primary hepatic disease in horses.
• The findings also highlight the varied presentation of equine hepatic disease, underlining the need for comprehensive assessments in symptomatic horses.