Heparin: a review of its pharmacology and therapeutic use in horses.
Abstract: Heparin is used clinically in horses to treat hemostatic abnormalities associated with severe gastrointestinal disease, septicemia, and endotoxemia. The primary anticoagulant effect of heparin is through the suppression of thrombin-dependent amplification of the coagulation cascade, and inhibition of thrombin-mediated conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Heparin may be of benefit in preventing the complications associated with hypercoagulable states such as jugular vein thrombosis, laminitis, and organ failure. Heparin may also be beneficial in the prevention of intraabdominal adhesions after gastrointestinal surgery, and in amelioration of hemodynamic abnormalities associated with endotoxic shock. Because a sequential rise in serum heparin concentration occurs during a uniform dosage regimen, a decreasing dosage regimen is recommended. The initial dose recommended is 150 U heparin/kg body weight subcutaneously, followed by 125 U heparin/kg body weight subcutaneously, every 12 hours for six doses. The dose should be decreased to 100 U heparin/kg body weight subcutaneously, every 12 hours, after the seventh dose. Anemia, hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, and painful swelling at injection sites are complications of heparin administration in horses.
Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 8176660DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1994.tb03192.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
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.
This research article discusses the use and effects of Heparin, an anticoagulant in horses. It details how it operates as well as its potential benefits, dosage recommendations and side effects.
Usage of Heparin in Horses
- Heparin is commonly employed in horse medicine for treatment of hemostatic imbalances, which frequently occur due to severe gastrointestinal disease, septicemia and endotoxemia.
- The principal anticoagulant capacity of heparin is realized primarily by the inhibition of thrombin, which typically escalates the coagulation cascade to block the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin by thrombin.
Benefits of Heparin
- Heparin can be beneficial in preventing the consequences associated with hypercoagulable states. This includes conditions like jugular vein thrombosis, laminitis, and organ failure.
- The drug may also help to prevent formation of intraabdominal adhesions following gastrointestinal surgery and improve hemodynamic irregularities linked with endotoxic shock.
Recommended Dosage
- The research paper presents a decreasing dosage regimen on account of a progressive increase in serum heparin concentration during uniform dosages.
- The researchers propose an initial dosage of 150 U/kg every 12 hours for the first six doses, then deducting the dosage to 125 U/kg for an equal period. At the seventh dose the amount should be further decreased to 100 U/kg.
Potential Side Effects
- The paper suggests several potential complications of heparin use in horses which include anemia, hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia and painful swelling at injection sites.
Cite This Article
APA
Moore BR, Hinchcliff KW.
(1994).
Heparin: a review of its pharmacology and therapeutic use in horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 8(1), 26-35.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1994.tb03192.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / drug therapy
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / veterinary
- Heparin / adverse effects
- Heparin / pharmacokinetics
- Heparin / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Honoré ML, Pihl TH, Nielsen LN. A pilot study evaluating the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram assay and application of plasma-thromboelastography for detection of hemostatic aberrations in horses with gastrointestinal disease.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Nov 8;17(1):346.
- Stöckle SD, Kannapin DA, Kauter AML, Lübke-Becker A, Walther B, Merle R, Gehlen H. A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing a Short-Term Perioperative Prophylaxis Regimen to a Long-Term Standard Protocol in Equine Colic Surgery.. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 16;10(5).
- Li H, Han D, Pauletti GM, Steckl AJ. Engineering a simple lateral flow device for animal blood coagulation monitoring.. Biomicrofluidics 2018 Jan;12(1):014110.
- Alonso Jde M, Rodrigues KA, Yamada AL, Watanabe MJ, Alves AL, Rodrigues CA, Hussni CA. Peritoneal reactivity evaluation in horses subjected to experimental small colon enterotomy and treated with subcutaneous heparin.. Vet Med Int 2014;2014:385392.
- Alonso Jde M, Alves AL, Watanabe MJ, Rodrigues CA, Hussni CA. Peritoneal response to abdominal surgery: the role of equine abdominal adhesions and current prophylactic strategies.. Vet Med Int 2014;2014:279730.
- Bäumer W, Herrling GM, Feige K. Pharmacokinetics and thrombolytic effects of the recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in horses.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Aug 9;9:158.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
