Idiopathic renal haematuria in a 15-year-old Arabian mare.

The research discusses a clinical case of idiopathic renal haematuria (unexplained bleeding from the kidney into the urine) in a 15-year-old Arabian mare. The mare exhibited weight loss and the presence of blood clots in her urine, but didn’t respond to conventional treatments.

Summary of the Case

• The 15-year old Arabian mare was admitted for examination due to reports of blood clots in her urine over a period of approximately 10 days. Despite previous attempts of treatment, her condition didn’t show any improvement.
• Physical examination of the horse showed significant weight loss, pale mucous membranes, and a slow capillary refill. Her urine was stained reddish, and her abdominal wall seemed contracted. Despite these symptoms, the mare didn’t exhibit signs of pain during urination, showed a healthy appetite and a normal level of alertness.
• Cystoscopic and renal ultrasonographic examinations showed continuous blood dripping from the right ureter, presence of blood clots in the bladder, and loss of differentiation between the cortex and medulla of the right kidney. The left kidney didn’t have any apparent alterations.
• Laboratory results showed normal levels of creatinine and urea, slightly low phosphorus levels, and a severely low haematocrit. Urinalysis revealed the presence of moderate albumin, scarce glucose, bilirubin and an abundance of red blood cells.

Treatment and Outcome

• The horse was initially treated with tranexamic acid, which is commonly used to prevent excessive blood loss. However, the treatment didn’t yield any improvement.
• The mare was then given a blood transfusion from an adult gelding. Unfortunately, she manifested severe signs of transfusion reaction after 10 minutes of initiation, which stopped the procedure.

Conclusions

• This research highlights the complexity of dealing with cases of idiopathic renal haemorrhage in horses. It also pinpoints the challenge of diagnosing the condition due to the non-specific manifestations and the non-conclusive findings of clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic examinations.
• The research provides a valuable case study for veterinarians struggling with similar cases, and emphasizes the need for more research into this condition in order to understand the underlying pathophysiology and develop effective treatment strategies.