Hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses: 5 cases (1995-2011).
Abstract: To describe the prognosis and clinical, echocardiographic, and pathological features of hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 5 horses with cardiac hypertrophy and systemic hypertension. Methods: Demographics, history, physical and cardiological examination findings, diagnosis, clinical progression, prognosis, and pathological findings were obtained from medical records. Results: The primary diagnosis was chronic laminitis in 3 horses and chronic renal failure in 2. Persistent tachycardia, hypertension, chronic laminitis, or a combination of these prompted the cardiac evaluations. Blood pressure values (median [range]), measured noninvasively, were determined as 190 mm Hg (183 to 261 mm Hg) for systolic pressure, 126 mm Hg (100 to 190 mm Hg) for diastolic pressure, and 155 mm Hg (126 to 222 mm Hg) for mean pressure. No arrhythmias were reported. For the left ventricle, all horses had increased relative wall thickness, mean wall thickness, and ventricular mass. The interventricular septum was thickened at end diastole (n = 5) and in peak systole (4). The left ventricular internal diameter was small at end diastole (n = 4) and in peak systole (3). The left ventricular free wall was thickened at end diastole (n = 3) and in peak systole (4). No associations between blood pressure and variables consistent with hypertrophy were detected. All horses were euthanized because of the grave prognosis of the primary diseases. All 3 horses that underwent postmortem evaluation had cardiovascular abnormalities. Conclusions: Hypertensive cardiomyopathy should be considered as a comorbid diagnosis in horses with laminitis or chronic renal failure. Information about the development, progression, reversibility, importance of early detection, and long-term sequelae of this condition is needed.
Publication Date: 2013-06-22 PubMed ID: 23786201DOI: 10.2460/javma.243.1.126Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research presents a case study on five horses suffering from hypertensive cardiomyopathy and aims to detail their diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical progression. Its main conclusion suggests that this condition should be considered a possible co-diagnosis in horses with laminitis or chronic renal failure.
Research Methodology
- The researchers studied five horses exhibiting symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy and systemic hypertension.
- Data was collected retrospectively from existing medical records, compiling a wealth of details on the animals’ demographics, medical history, physical and cardiological examination findings, diagnosis, and clinical progression.
Findings
- In three of the five horses studied, the primary diagnosis was chronic laminitis, while the remaining two were found to be suffering from chronic renal failure.
- The horses displayed persistent symptoms like tachycardia, hypertension, and chronic laminitis, or combinations of these symptoms, which led to cardiac evaluations.
- All subjects showed substantially elevated blood pressure values, with no reported arrhythmias.
- Various measurements and examinations revealed abnormalities in the left ventricle, including increased relative wall thickness, mean wall thickness, and ventricular mass.
- The interventricular septum, an internal cardiac structure, was found to be thickened at the end of the diastolic phase (relaxation and filling of the heart) in all horses and during the peak of the systolic phase (contraction and pumping out of the heart) in four horses.
- A smaller than average internal diameter was observed in the left ventricle at the end of the diastole in four horses and during the peak of the systole in three horses.
- Thickening of the left ventricular free wall, another internal heart structure, was seen at the end of the diastolic phase in three horses and at the peak of the systolic phase in four horses.
- No significant associations were found between blood pressure and variables indicative of hypertrophy.
- All studied horses were euthanized due to poor prognosis relating to their primary diseases. Postmortem evaluation of three horses revealed cardiovascular deformities.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that hypertensive cardiomyopathy should be considered as a comorbidity in horses diagnosed with laminitis or chronic renal failure.
- More information is needed regarding the development, progression, reversibility, early detection importance, and long-term effects of hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Navas de Solis C, Slack J, Boston RC, Reef VB.
(2013).
Hypertensive cardiomyopathy in horses: 5 cases (1995-2011).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 243(1), 126-130.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.243.1.126 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. crisnavasdes@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cardiomyopathies / etiology
- Cardiomyopathies / pathology
- Cardiomyopathies / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hypertension / complications
- Hypertension / pathology
- Hypertension / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Bevevino KE, Cohen ND, Gordon SG, Navas de Solis C. Feasibility of a point-of-care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1223-1232.
- Williams NJ, Furr M, Navas de Solis C, Campolo A, Davis M, Lacombe VA. Investigating the Relationship Between Cardiac Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Horses: A Pilot Study. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:899951.
- Ter Woort F, Dubois G, Tansley G, Didier M, Verdegaal L, Franklin S, Van Erck-Westergren E. Validation of an equine fitness tracker: ECG quality and arrhythmia detection. Equine Vet J 2022 Feb 9;55(2):336-43.
- D' Fonseca NMM, Beukers M, Wijnberg ID, Navas de Solis C, de Ruijter-Villani M, van Doorn DA, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2427-2436.
- Vernemmen I, Vera L, Van Steenkiste G, van Loon G, Decloedt A. Reference values for 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in Friesian and Warmblood horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Nov;34(6):2701-2709.
- Heliczer N, Lorello O, Casoni D, Navas de Solis C. Accuracy and Precision of Noninvasive Blood Pressure in Normo-, Hyper-, and Hypotensive Standing and Anesthetized Adult Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 May;30(3):866-72.
- Fegraeus K, Rosengren MK, Naboulsi R, Orlando L, Åbrink M, Jouni A, Velie BD, Raine A, Egner B, Mattsson CM, Lång K, Zhigulev A, Björck HM, Franco-Cereceda A, Eriksson P, Andersson G, Sahlén P, Meadows JRS, Lindgren G. An endothelial regulatory module links blood pressure regulation with elite athletic performance. PLoS Genet 2024 Jun;20(6):e1011285.
- van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC 2nd, Siwinska N. ECEIM consensus statement on equine kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2008-2025.
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