Glucocorticoid-induced laminitis with hepatopathy in a Thoroughbred filly.
Abstract: A 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly was referred to the Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association for evaluation of hematuria, inappetite, weight loss and depression. From 25 days prior to admission, the horse was treated for right carpal lameness with 20 mg intramuscular administration of triamcinolone acetonide per day for consecutive 10 days by a local veterinarian. Clinical and laboratory findings included vaginal hyperemia, flare in bladder wall, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, polyuria, polydipsia and laminitis in the end. High activities of aspartate transaminase and gamma glutamyltransferase and high concentration of total bilirubin indicated hepatopathy. Further hematology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis did not reveal any abnormalities. Medical history, physical and clinicopathologic findings suggest that the laminitis and hepatopathy in this horse were most likely induced by repeated administration of exogenous corticosteroid. However, guarded prognosis of treating laminitis undermined the benefit of improvement of hematuria following electroacupuncture stimulation. The combined stimulation of kidney related acupoints (Shen Peng, Shen Shu), lumber related acupoints (Yao Qian, Yao Zhong) and associate acupoints (Guan Yuan Shu, Bai Hui) at 5Hz, 1-2V, for 40 minutes was of value in the treatment of hematuria. This case shows that horses under steroids may exhibit laminitis and steroid hepatopathy. Early recognition and good management of laminitis are important in the limitation of complications.
Publication Date: 2004-09-15 PubMed ID: 15365245
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Summary
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This research studied a 3-year-old Thoroughbred horse which developed laminitis and liver problems believed to be caused by repeated administration of a steroid. It also highlights the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for treating blood in urine, but mentions the prognosis for treating steroid-induced laminitis remains uncertain.
Horse Presentation and Symptoms
- The horse was presented at a hospital due to symptoms of hematuria (blood in the urine), lack of appetite, weight loss and depression.
- It had been previously treated for right carpal lameness with daily doses of a steroid, called triamcinolone acetonide, for 10 consecutive days.
- Further clinical examinations revealed vaginal hyperemia (increased blood flow), bladder wall inflammation, neutrophilia (high level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell), lymphopenia (low level of lymphocytes, another type of white blood cell), polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst) and laminitis (inflammation of the tissue inside the hoof).
Hepatopathy Diagnosis
- The horse also showed elevated levels of certain enzymes and bilirubin in the blood, indicating liver disease (hepatopathy).
- No further abnormalities were found in the additional hematology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis conducted.
Laminitis and Hepatopathy Suspected Cause
- The research suggests that both the laminitis and hepatopathy were most likely caused by the repeated administration of the exogenous corticosteroid.
Treatment and Prognosis
- Despite the laminitis undermining the success of the treatment, the horse’s hematuria noticeably improved after receiving electroacupuncture stimulation.
- The acupuncture protocol targeted kidney, lumber related and associate acupuncture points, and was done once at 5Hz frequency, 1-2V, and lasted for 40 minutes.
Conclusion
- This case study illustrates that horses under steroid treatment might develop laminitis and steroid-related hepatopathy.
- It also emphasises the importance of early recognition and proper management of laminitis to prevent further complications.
Cite This Article
APA
Ryu SH, Kim BS, Lee CW, Yoon J, Lee YL.
(2004).
Glucocorticoid-induced laminitis with hepatopathy in a Thoroughbred filly.
J Vet Sci, 5(3), 271-274.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association, Kwachon 427-070, Korea.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
- Electroacupuncture / veterinary
- Female
- Foot Diseases / chemically induced
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Forelimb / pathology
- Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
- Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / chemically induced
- Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
- Liver Diseases / veterinary
- Triamcinolone Acetonide / adverse effects
- Triamcinolone Acetonide / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Timko KJ, Hostnik LD, Watts MR, Chen C, Bercz A, Toribio RE, Belknap JK, Burns TA. Diagnostic evaluation of insulin and glucose dynamics in light-breed horses receiving dexamethasone. Can Vet J 2022 Jun;63(6):617-626.
- Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP. Glucocorticoid treatment in horses with asthma: A narrative review. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jul;35(4):2045-2057.
- Lavoie JP, Leclere M, Rodrigues N, Lemos KR, Bourzac C, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Beauchamp G, Albrecht B. Efficacy of inhaled budesonide for the treatment of severe equine asthma. Equine Vet J 2019 May;51(3):401-407.
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