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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2014; 55(4); 334-340;

Effects of xylazine, romifidine, or detomidine on hematology, biochemistry, and splenic thickness in healthy horses.

Abstract: Alpha-2 agonist-induced changes in packed cell volume (PCV), total solids (TS), selected biochemical parameters, and splenic thickness were investigated in horses. Four healthy mares were treated in a blinded, randomized, cross-over design with a dose of xylazine (0.5 mg/kg), romifidine (0.04 mg/kg), or detomidine (0.01 mg/kg) IV, and detomidine (0.02 mg/kg) IM. Hematology, TS, colloid osmotic pressure (COP), plasma osmolality; glucose, lactate, urea (BUN) and electrolyte concentrations; venous blood pH and ultrasonographic splenic thickness were evaluated at intervals for 300 min. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed with P < 0.05. There was a significant change over time in PCV and TS following each treatment (P < 0.001), with median (range) reductions of 20.9% (12.9% to 27.3%) and 5.8% (3.0% to 10.3%), respectively. Red blood cell count, BUN, and COP decreased while osmolality, glucose, Na(+), and splenic thickness increased. Treatments induced clinically significant transient changes in PCV, TS, and other biochemical parameters, which should be considered when assessing horses that received these drugs. Des changements induits à l’aide d’alpha-2 agonistes au niveau de la valeur d’hématocrite (VH), des solides totaux (ST), de paramètres biochimiques choisis et de l’épaisseur splénique ont été étudiés chez les chevaux. Quatre juments en santé ont été traitées dans une étude à l’aveugle, randomisée et croisée avec une dose de xylazine (0,5 mg/kg), de romifidine (0,04 mg/kg) ou de détomidine (0,01 mg/kg) IV et de détomidine (0,02 mg/kg) IM. L’hématologie, les ST, la pression osmotique colloïdale (POC), l’osmolalité plasmatique, le glucose, le lactate, l’urée (l’azote uréique du sang) et les concentrations d’électrolytes, le pH du sang veineux et l’épaisseur splénique échographique ont été évalués à des intervalles de 300 minutes. L’analyse de la variance des mesures répétées a été réalisée avec < 0,05. Il y avait des changements significatifs dans le temps de VH et des ST après chaque traitement ( < 0,001), avec des réductions moyennes (écart) de 20,9 % (de 12,9 % à 27,3 %) et de 5,8 % (de 3,0 % à 10,3 %), respectivement. Le nombre de globules rouges, l’azote uréique du sang et la POC ont diminué tandis que l’osmolalité, le glucose, Na et l’épaisseur splénique ont augmenté. Les traitements ont induit des changements transitoires significatifs sur le plan clinique dans la VH, les ST et les autres paramètres biochimiques qui devraient être considérés lors de l’évaluation des chevaux qui ont reçu ces médicaments.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2014-04-02 PubMed ID: 24688132PubMed Central: PMC3953931
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research investigates the impact of alpha-2 agonists (xylazine, romifidine, or detomidine) on the hematology, biochemistry, and splenic thickness in healthy horses.

Study Design

  • The research was conducted using a blind, randomized, cross-over design. This design ensures that the results are not influenced by any biases from the researchers or the experimental process.
  • The subjects of the research were four healthy mares that underwent treatment with either IV or IM-administered xylazine, romifidine, or detomidine.

Parameters Monitored

  • The researchers measured various parameters at 300-minute intervals. These parameters included hematology, total solids (TS), colloid osmotic pressure (COP), plasma osmolality, glucose, lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), electrolyte concentrations, venous blood pH, and splenic thickness detected through ultrasonography.

Statistical Analysis

  • To evaluate the significance of the data collected, the researchers conducted a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a significance level of less than 0.05 (P < 0.05).

Study Outcomes

  • The study found significant changes in packed cell volume (PCV) and TS over time following each treatment, with median reductions of approximately 20.9% and 5.8%, respectively.
  • Red blood cell count, BUN, and COP decreased, while osmolality, glucose, sodium ion concentration (Na+), and splenic thickness increased.
  • The authors concluded that the therapies induced clinically significant transient changes in PCV, TS, and other biochemical parameters, suggesting that these effects should be taken into consideration while evaluating horses that have received these drugs.

Cite This Article

APA
Kullmann A, Sanz M, Fosgate GT, Saulez MN, Page PC, Rioja E. (2014). Effects of xylazine, romifidine, or detomidine on hematology, biochemistry, and splenic thickness in healthy horses. Can Vet J, 55(4), 334-340.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 4
Pages: 334-340

Researcher Affiliations

Kullmann, Annie
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Sanz, Macarena
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Fosgate, Geoffrey T
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Saulez, Montague N
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Page, Patrick C
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Rioja, Eva
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Kullmann, Sanz, Saulez, Page, Rioja) and Department of Production Animal Studies (Fosgate), University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.

MeSH Terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen
  • Erythrocyte Count / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses / blood
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Osmotic Pressure
  • Sodium / blood
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Xylazine / adverse effects
  • Xylazine / pharmacology

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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