Influence of Long-Term Furosemide Use on Bone Mineral Content, Bone Metabolism Markers, and Water Weight Loss in Horses.
Abstract: Furosemide is used to reduce the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses. Previous research suggests furosemide negatively impacts calcium balance, which may have long-term implications for bone health. Eleven healthy horses, either control (CON, n = 5) or treatment (FUR, n = 6), were used to test furosemide's effects on bone mineral content (BMC), bone metabolism biomarkers, and weight loss after administration. Treatment horses received IV furosemide at 1 mg⋅kg BW once weekly for seven weeks, and blood was collected before and at 24 hours after administration for biomarker analysis. All horses were weighed before and at 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after administration. Radiographs of the left third metacarpal were taken every 28 days for BMC determination using radiographic bone aluminum equivalence. After administration, FUR lost more BW than CON (P < .05 for all) as quickly as 2 hours after administration (CON: -0.4 ± 0.3%, FUR: -2.2 ± 0.3%), and these losses remained greater than CON at 4 hours (CON: -1.0 ± 0.3%, FUR: -3.3 ± 0.3%) and 8 hours (CON: 0.0 ± 0.3%, FUR: -1.2 ± 0.3%). FUR lost more BW on day 0 than CON (P = .03), but on day 28 and day 49, FUR BW losses were no greater than CON (P > .10). No treatment effects were observed for BMC nor pyridinoline and osteocalcin concentrations (P > .10). Reduced BW changes over time in FUR but not CON warrant further investigation to establish the efficacy of frequent furosemide administration over long periods of time.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-10-01 PubMed ID: 31732111DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102800Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines the long-term effects of using Furosemide, a medication often given to racehorses to prevent pulmonary hemorrhage, specifically looking at its impact on bone health and weight loss. Surprisingly, it seems that while Furosemide significantly affects immediate weight loss, it does not have substantial effects on bone health over an extended period of time.
Research Methodology
- The researchers used a total of 11 healthy horses split into two groups: a control group (CON, n=5) and a treatment group (FUR, n=6).
- The treatment group received intravenous Furosemide at a rate of 1mg per kg of body weight once a week for seven weeks.
- Blood samples were collected before and 24 hours after each administration for biomarker analysis.
- All horses were weighed before and at various intervals (2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours) after each administration.
- Radiographs of the left third metacarpal were taken every 28 days for BMC determination using radiographic bone aluminum equivalence.
Results and Conclusion
- Weight loss in the treatment group was significantly more than in the control group as soon as 2 hours after administration.
- This weight loss remained higher in the treatment group 4 and 8 hours after administration.
- No significant differences in bone mineral content (BMC) or the concentrations of pyridinoline and osteocalcin (indicators of bone health) were observed between the two groups.
- The treatment group saw a larger weight loss than the control group on the first day, but by day 28 and day 49, these losses were no greater than the control group. This suggests that the effects of Furosemide on weight may not be long-lasting.
- The reduction of weight changes over time in the treatment group, but not the control group, calls for further investigation. This is to determine the efficacy and potential implications of administering Furosemide over long periods of time.
Cite This Article
APA
Pritchard A, Spooner H, Hoffman R.
(2019).
Influence of Long-Term Furosemide Use on Bone Mineral Content, Bone Metabolism Markers, and Water Weight Loss in Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 82, 102800.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102800 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Horse Science, Middle Tennessee University, Murfreesboro, TN. Electronic address: pritch66@msu.edu.
- Department of Horse Science, Middle Tennessee University, Murfreesboro, TN.
- Department of Horse Science, Middle Tennessee University, Murfreesboro, TN.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Density / drug effects
- Furosemide / pharmacology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Lung Diseases / prevention & control
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Water / metabolism
- Weight Loss / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Banihashemi SH, Samimi AS, Samimi K, Tajik J. Effects of double intravenous furosemide administration at different doses on clinical variables, electrocardiographic indices and serum electrolytes in miniature donkeys.. Vet Res Forum 2023;14(1):53-57.
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