Effects of dexamethasone on endotoxin shock in the anesthetized pony: hematologic, blood gas, and coagulation changes.
Abstract: The effects of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg of body weight) on hematologic, blood gas, and blood coagulation values in anesthetized ponies during endotoxin-induced shock were evaluated. Fifteen ponies were assigned to 3 groups of 5 ponies each: group 1, anesthetized nontreated and dexamethasone-treated controls; group 2, endotoxin, nontreated; group 3, endotoxin, dexamethasone treated. The hematologic changes in this endotoxin shock model included leukopenia and hemoconcentration. Significant hematologic effects were not seen in ponies after administration of dexamethasone. However, dexamethasone treatment resulted in an increased trend in total WBC counts and neutrophils. The blood gas changes reflected a respiratory component resulting from anesthesia and a greater metabolic component from the endotoxemia. The plasma lactate increase was significantly (P less than 0.05) less in ponies treated with dexamethasone, compared with plasma lactate in non-treated ponies. During endotoxin shock, the changes observed in the blood coagulation values included a significant (P less than 0.05) prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time and an insignificant prolongation of the prothrombin time. Dexamethasone treatment prevented prolongation of thrombin time and permitted only a mild prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time. Seemingly, corticosteroids are useful in the treatment of clinical endotoxin shock in horses as indicated by their desirable effects on total WBC, neutrophils, cellular metabolism, and blood coagulation.
Publication Date: 1982-03-01 PubMed ID: 7073057
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study evaluates the effects of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, on hematologic, blood gas, and blood coagulation values during endotoxin-induced shock in ponies. The findings suggest that dexamethasone treatment may be beneficial for endotoxin shock in horses, indicated by its effects on white blood cell count, neutrophils, cellular metabolism, and blood coagulation.
Research Method
- The research was conducted on fifteen ponies divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of anesthetized non-treated and dexamethasone-treated controls; Group 2 included ponies that were given endotoxins but not treated; Group 3 comprised ponies both endotoxin introduced and dexamethasone treated.
Hematologic Changes
- Endotoxin shock in ponies resulted in leukopenia (a decrease in the number of white blood cells) and hemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of cells and solids in the blood).
- These significant hematologic changes did not appear in ponies treated with dexamethasone. Instead, an upward trend in total WBC counts and neutrophils was exhibited following treatment with dexamethasone.
Changes in Blood Gas and Metabolic Components
- The alterations in blood gas indicated both a respiratory component due to anesthesia and a larger metabolic component resulting from endotoxin induction.
- Dexamethasone treatment significantly decreased the increase in plasma lactate levels compared to non-treated ponies, indicating beneficial effects on cellular metabolism.
Blood Coagulation Values
- Endotoxemia led to a significant elongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and the thrombin time, implying an abnormality in blood clotting. There was also an insignificant lengthening of prothrombin time.
- The treatment with dexamethasone prevented the lengthening of the thrombin time and allowed only a mild increase in APTT.
Conclusion
- The research findings suggest that corticosteroids such as dexamethasone can be useful in treating clinical endotoxin shock in horses, as indicated by their positive effects on WBC count, neutrophils, cellular metabolism, and blood coagulation.
Cite This Article
APA
Frauenfelder HC, Fessler JF, Moore AB, Bottoms GD, Boon GD.
(1982).
Effects of dexamethasone on endotoxin shock in the anesthetized pony: hematologic, blood gas, and coagulation changes.
Am J Vet Res, 43(3), 405-411.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Acidosis / etiology
- Acidosis / veterinary
- Animals
- Blood Coagulation / drug effects
- Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
- Dexamethasone / pharmacology
- Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
- Endotoxins / administration & dosage
- Female
- Hematocrit / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Lactates / blood
- Leukocytosis / etiology
- Leukocytosis / veterinary
- Male
- Shock, Septic / blood
- Shock, Septic / drug therapy
- Shock, Septic / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Duggan VE, Holbrook TC, Dechant JE, Blaik MA, Ritchey JW. Diagnosis of aorto-iliac thrombosis in a quarter horse foal using Doppler ultrasound and nuclear scintigraphy. J Vet Intern Med 2004 Sep-Oct;18(5):753-6.
- Margolis JH, Bottoms GD, Fessler JF. The efficacy of dexamethasone and flunixin meglumine in treating endotoxin-induced changes in calves. Vet Res Commun 1987;11(5):479-91.
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