Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Racehorses.
Abstract: Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) is a common pulmonary disease among racehorses, diagnosed by the detection of blood in the trachea after strenuous exercise or the presence of hemosiderophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Although the latter is considered the most sensitive method to diagnose EIPH, it is perceived as a less practical and more invasive procedure compared to tracheal wash (TW) collection among racehorse trainers. The present retrospective study aimed to verify the agreement between Tracheal wash and BALF cytology in assessing EIPH in racehorses. For this purpose, cytological data from 172 patients regarding hemosiderophage percentage, hemosiderin score, and percentage of recent, intermediate, and old EIPH were reviewed, and the simplified Total Hemosiderin Score (sTHS) was calculated. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to assess the difference and the correlation between TW and BALF. The two cytological methods strongly agreed in evaluating EIPH in racehorses for hemosiderophage percentage (ρ = 0.89, < 0.001), hemosiderin score (k = 0.63, < 0.001), sTHS (ρ = 0.87, < 0.001), percentage of recent EIPH (ρ = 0.95, < 0.001), intermediate EIPH (ρ = 0.92, < 0.001), and old EIPH (ρ = 0.85, < 0.001). In conclusion, TW showed to be a reliable method, which might substitute BALF in assessing EIPH in racehorses.
Publication Date: 2024-11-12 PubMed ID: 39595296PubMed Central: PMC11591033DOI: 10.3390/ani14223243Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article centers on Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in racehorses, comparing the effectiveness of two diagnostic methods – Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology. The study finds that both methods accurately evaluate the disease, suggesting that Tracheal Wash could be a reliable replacement for the more invasive Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology.
Objective of the Research
The study aimed to compare the agreement between the Tracheal Wash (TW) and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) cytology methods in diagnosing Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in racehorses. BALF is known as the most accurate, but less practical and more invasive method to diagnose EIPH, compared to Tracheal Wash.
- The researchers performed a retrospective study on cytological data of 172 patients, analysing various components such as the percentage of hemosiderophages, hemosiderin score, and the percentage of recent, intermediate, and old EIPH.
- The simplified Total Hemosiderin Score (sTHS) was also calculated. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to assess the difference and correlation between TW and BALF.
Results of the Research
The study found strong agreement between the Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid cytology methods in assessing EIPH in racehorses.
- There was high agreement in evaluating the hemosiderophage percentage (ρ = 0.89, < 0.001), hemosiderin score (k = 0.63, < 0.001), and sTHS (ρ = 0.87, < 0.001).
- Similarly, agreement was high when assessing the percentage of recent EIPH (ρ = 0.95, < 0.001), intermediate EIPH (ρ = 0.92, < 0.001), and old EIPH (ρ = 0.85, < 0.001).
Conclusion of the Research
The study concluded that Tracheal Wash is a reliable method for assessing Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in racehorses. This suggests that it might substitute for Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology, which is often seen as less practical and more invasive. The findings could potentially impact the methods used to diagnose EIPH in the equine industry, promoting a more efficient and less intrusive approach.
Cite This Article
APA
Bozzola C, Sala G, Schinardi L, Stancari G, Stucchi L, Ferrucci F, Zucca E.
(2024).
Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Racehorses.
Animals (Basel), 14(22), 3243.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223243 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Università di Pisa, San Piero a Grado, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
- Veterinary Practitioner, 26121 Piacenza, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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