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Home / Equine Research Bank / Am J Vet Res / Coughing, mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway...
American journal of veterinary research2003; 64(5); 550-557; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.550

Coughing, mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway inflammation in control horses and horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction.

Abstract: To investigate relationships between cough frequency and mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway inflammation and to determine effects of dexamethasone on coughing and mucus score. Methods: 13 horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and 6 control horses. Methods: 6 RAO-affected and 6 control horses were stabled for 3 days. Coughing was counted for 4 hours before and on each day horses were stabled. Before and on day 3 of stabling, tracheal mucus accumulation was scored, airway obstruction was assessed via maximal change in pleural pressure (deltaPpl(max)), and airway inflammation was evaluated by use of cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Effects of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h for 7 days) were determined in 12 RAO-affected horses. Results: To assess frequency, coughing had to be counted for 1 hour. In RAO-affected horses, stabling was associated with increases in cough frequency, mucus score, and deltaPpl(max). Control horses coughed transiently when first stabled. In RAO-affected horses, coughing was correlated with deltaPpl(max), mucus score, and airway inflammation and was a sensitive and specific indicator of deltaPpl(max) > 6 cm H2O, mucus score > 1.0, and > 100 neutrophils/microL and > 20% neutrophils in BALF Dexamethasone reduced cough frequency, mucus score, and deltaPpl(max), but BALF neutrophil count remained increased. Conclusions: Because of its sporadic nature, coughing cannot be assessed accurately by counting during brief periods. In RAO-affected horses, coughing is an indicator of airway inflammation and obstruction. Corticosteroid treatment reduces cough frequency concurrently with reductions in deltaPpl(max) and mucus accumulation in RAO-affected horses.
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Publication Date: 2003-05-21 PubMed ID: 12755293DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.550Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 study explores the relationships between coughing frequency, mucus buildup, airway blockage, and inflammation in both healthy horses and those suffering from recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). It also examines the impacts of the drug dexamethasone on these symptoms. The results showed that in RAO-affected horses, stabling increased symptoms, including coughing, mucus accumulation, and airway obstruction. Additionally, while dexamethasone helped to reduce symptoms, it did not impact the elevated neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, a marker of inflammation.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers involved 13 horses diagnosed with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and 6 healthy horses (controls).
  • Half of the RAO-affected and control horses were stabled for three days, and their coughing was monitored for four hours before and on each day they were stabled.
  • At the start and on day 3 of stabling, the horses had their tracheal mucus accumulation scored, airway obstruction assessed via maximal change in pleural pressure (deltaPpl(max)), and airway inflammation measured using cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
  • Additionally, they studied the effects of dexamethasone (administered at 0.1 mg/kg, IV, every 24 hours for seven days) on 12 RAO-affected horses.

Findings

  • Researchers found that for an accurate assessment of coughing frequency, it needs to be counted for at least one hour.
  • Stabling of RAO-affected horses led to increased cough frequency, higher mucus scores, and surge in deltaPpl(max) values.
  • In contrast, control horses only exhibited transient coughing when first stabled.
  • Coughing in RAO-affected horses showed correlation with deltaPpl(max), mucus score, and airway inflammation.
  • Moreover, coughing was a sensitive and specific indicator for increases in deltaPpl(max), mucus score, and inflammation markers measured in the BALF (neutrophils >100/microL and >20%).
  • Dexamethasone treatment reduced cough frequency, mucus score, and deltaPpl(max), but it did not lead to a decrease in BALF neutrophil count.

Conclusion

  • The findings demonstrated that due to its intermittent nature, accurate assessment of coughing can’t be achieved during brief periods.
  • For RAO-affected horses, coughing is an indicator of airway inflation and obstruction.
  • The treatment with corticosteroids like dexamethasone can mitigate symptoms like cough frequency, mucus accumulation, and airway obstruction but it does not significantly reduce airway inflammation as indicated by the persistently high neutrophil count in BALF.

Cite This Article

APA
Robinson NE, Berney C, Eberhart S, deFeijter-Rupp HL, Jefcoat AM, Cornelisse CJ, Gerber VM, Derksen FJ. (2003). Coughing, mucus accumulation, airway obstruction, and airway inflammation in control horses and horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction. Am J Vet Res, 64(5), 550-557. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.550

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 5
Pages: 550-557

Researcher Affiliations

Robinson, N Edward
  • Pulmonary Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Berney, Cathy
    Eberhart, Sue
      deFeijter-Rupp, Heather L
        Jefcoat, Andrew M
          Cornelisse, Cornelis J
            Gerber, Vincent M
              Derksen, Frederik J

                MeSH Terms

                • Airway Obstruction / complications
                • Airway Obstruction / drug therapy
                • Airway Obstruction / pathology
                • Airway Obstruction / veterinary
                • Animals
                • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
                • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
                • Cough / complications
                • Cough / pathology
                • Cough / physiopathology
                • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
                • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
                • Horse Diseases / pathology
                • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
                • Horses
                • Inflammation / veterinary
                • Mucus / physiology
                • Respiratory Function Tests
                • Respiratory System / pathology
                • Respiratory System / physiopathology
                • Time Factors

                Citations

                This article has been cited 15 times.
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