Efficacy of furosemide in the treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: The repeatability of endoscopic observations of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and the efficacy of furosemide as a prophylactic treatment of horses with EIPH were studied in Thoroughbred race horses after consecutive breezes (at or near maximum speed, approx 16 m/s). Of 56 horses examined greater than or equal to 2 times, 21 (38%) had identical EIPH scores, whereas 26 (46%) and 9 (16%) had scores that differed by greater than or equal to 1 grade. In 56 nontreated horses, there was good agreement between 2 consecutive observations (K = 0.59, Z = 4.54, P less than 0.001). Similar comparisons after placebo (saline solution) treatment of 21 horses yielded fair to good agreement, whereas poorer agreement was seen after furosemide treatment of 23 horses. Comparison of average and maximum EIPH scores of 44 horses with a minimum of 4 observations (2 nontreated, 1 saline-treated, and 1 furosemide-treated) indicated that although furosemide did not stop EIPH, it did reduce the EIPH score in 28 (64%) horses.
Publication Date: 1985-09-01 PubMed ID: 4051304
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research paper studies the effectiveness of the drug furosemide in preventing exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in Thoroughbred racehorses. The results indicate that while furosemide does not completely eliminate EIPH, it was successful in reducing the severity of EIPH in 64% of the studied sample.
Research Methodology
- The study analyzed 56 Thoroughbred racehorses, all observed after high-speed exercises, or “breezes”. These exercises are performed at speeds close to the maximum (about 16 m/s).
- The horses were examined multiple times, and the degrees of EIPH were scored. The observation scores were compared to establish repeatability, i.e., consistency of EIPH occurrence and severity.
- Three different approaches were also examined: no treatment, treatment with a saline solution (placebo), and treatment with furosemide.
Research Findings
- Out of the 56 horses, 21 (38%) showed the same EIPH scores during repeated observations, while 26 (46%) and 9 (16%) had scores with a variance of one or more grades.
- The study found a good agreement between two consecutive observations for non-treated horses.
- The placebo treatment showed fair to good agreement, meaning the saline solution didn’t have a significant impact on the EIPH scores.
- The furosemide treatment, however, displayed poorer agreement, suggesting the drug significantly affected EIPH scores.
Impact of Furosemide Treatment
- A total of 44 horses with at least 4 observations (including non-treatment, placebo, and furosemide treatment) were reviewed for average and maximum EIPH scores.
- The comparison of these scores showed that furosemide had an effect on EIPH. Although it did not completely prevent this condition, it reduced the EIPH score in 28 horses, i.e., about 64% of the sample size.
- This implies that furosemide may not offer a total cure for EIPH, but it can play a significant role in mitigating the severity of this condition in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Pascoe JR, McCabe AE, Franti CE, Arthur RM.
(1985).
Efficacy of furosemide in the treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Am J Vet Res, 46(9), 2000-2003.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Furosemide / therapeutic use
- Hemoptysis / drug therapy
- Hemoptysis / etiology
- Hemoptysis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Physical Exertion
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Lopez Sanchez CM, Kogan C, Gold JR, Sellon DC, Bayly WM. Relationship between tracheobronchoscopic score and bronchoalveolar lavage red blood cell numbers in the diagnosis of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jan;34(1):322-329.
- Poole DC, Erickson HH. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: where are we now?. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:133-148.
- Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):743-58.
- Perez-Moreno CI, Couëtil LL, Pratt SM, Ochoa-Acuña HG, Raskin RE, Russell MA. Effect of furosemide and furosemide-carbazochrome combination on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Standardbred racehorses.. Can Vet J 2009 Aug;50(8):821-7.
- Donaldson LL. A review of the pathophysiology of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in the equine athlete.. Vet Res Commun 1991;15(3):211-26.
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