Fibrinous pericarditis and pericardial effusion in three neonatal foals.
Abstract: Three foals, aged between 5 and 10 days, were presented for assessment of lethargy, abdominal pain and joint effusion. Fibrinous pericarditis and pericardial effusion (PE) were recognised in each foal and considered as sequelae to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and suspected or confirmed septicaemia. Unassigned: Diagnosis of pericarditis was made in two foals by echocardiographic examination and analysis of pericardial fluid, and during postmortem examination of the third foal. In both of the foals that underwent pericardiocentesis, PE was an exudate, no bacteria were identified on cytological analysis and bacterial culture was negative. Despite apparent response to treatment, two foals died 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, after discharge from hospital. One foal was euthanased during hospitalisation. Conclusions: This report highlights the need to consider the development of pericarditis and PE in foals with SIRS and signs of cardiorespiratory dysfunction, and the requirement for protracted follow-up to monitor for clinical resolution.
© 2014 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2014-09-01 PubMed ID: 25179536DOI: 10.1111/avj.12238Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research studied three young foals suffering from fibrinous pericarditis and pericardial effusion, conditions marked by inflammation and fluid accumulation in the heart. Despite seemingly positive responses to treatment, two of the foals died within weeks and one was euthanised during hospitalisation, demonstrating the need for long-term monitoring and perhaps reconsideration of treatment strategies for similar cases.
Overview of the Study
- The study focused on three foals, ranging in age from 5 to 10 days old. The animals were observed due to manifesting signs of lethargy, abdominal pain, and joint effusion.
- The foals were diagnosed with fibrinous pericarditis and pericardial effusion, conditions associated with inflammation and fluid accumulation around the heart. These conditions were seen as potential aftereffects of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and possible or confirmed septicaemia (blood infection).
Diagnostic Procedure
- Two of the foals were diagnosed with pericarditis through echocardiographic examination and the subsequent analysis of pericardial fluid.
- A postmortem examination was necessary in the case of the third foal to confirm the diagnosis.
- Pericardiocentesis showed that the pericardial effusion in two foals was exudative in nature (rich in protein and cellular debris). However, bacterial presence was neither confirmed through cytological analysis nor bacterial culture.
Outcomes of the Study
- Even though all foals initially demonstrated a positive response to treatment, two died within 2 and 3 weeks after being discharged from the hospital.
- The third foal had to be euthanised during hospitalisation due to a lack of improvement.
Conclusions
- The study underlines the necessity to take into account the possibility of pericarditis and pericardial effusion in foals showing symptoms of SIRS, and cardiorespiratory dysfunction.
- Given the fatal outcomes in this case study, there is a distinct need for prolonged follow-up care, especially if the foal initially seems to respond well to treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Armstrong SK, Raidal SL, Hughes KJ.
(2014).
Fibrinous pericarditis and pericardial effusion in three neonatal foals.
Aust Vet J, 92(10), 392-399.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12238 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Fatal Outcome
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Pericardial Effusion / complications
- Pericardial Effusion / pathology
- Pericardial Effusion / therapy
- Pericardial Effusion / veterinary
- Pericarditis / complications
- Pericarditis / pathology
- Pericarditis / therapy
- Pericarditis / veterinary
- Radiography
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / complications
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / pathology
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / therapy
- Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / veterinary
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Chapuis RJJ, Ragno VM, Ariza CA, Movasseghi AR, Sayi S, Uehlinger FD, Montgomery JB. Septic fibrinous pericarditis in 4 horses in Saskatchewan following an outbreak of forest tent caterpillars in 2017. Can Vet J 2020 Jul;61(7):724-730.
- Tagawa M, Kurashima C, Shimbo G, Omura H, Koyama K, Horiuchi N, Kobayashi Y, Kawamoto K, Miyahara K. Fibrinous pericarditis secondary to bacterial infection in a cat. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Jun 10;79(6):957-961.
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