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Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(1); 131-135; doi: 10.1111/evj.13128

Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide improves lung function in horses with severe asthma.

Abstract: Locally administered corticosteroids are commonly used to treat joint diseases in sport and racehorses. As they are also the most potent drugs for the treatment of equine asthma, we hypothesised that the intra-articular corticosteroids used to treat joint diseases also improve the lung function in horses with severe asthma, thus potentially delaying the diagnosis of this common lung condition. Objective: To compare the effects of intra-articular (IA) and intramuscular (IM) triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on lung function in horses with severe asthma. Methods: Randomised and controlled experiment on asthma-prone research animals. Methods: Horses with severe asthma in clinical exacerbation were given either 20 mg of TA in both tarsocrural joints (n = 5; 40 mg/horse) or 40 mg of TA intramuscularly (n = 5). Lung function and TA serum concentrations were measured weekly for 35 days. TA serum concentrations were also evaluated on day 3. Results: The pulmonary resistance (R ) and elastance (E ) values decreased by day 7 in the IA group (P<0.0001 and P = 0.003, respectively) and by day 14 in the IM group (P = 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). Lung function was improved up to days 21 and 28 in the IA and IM groups, respectively, when compared with baseline. TA serum levels were below the quantification limit (100 pg/ml) for 4 and 3 of the 5 horses in the IA and IM groups, respectively, on day 7. The area under the curve for R , E and the serum concentrations of TA were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The response of horses with severe asthma might differ from that of high-performance horses with mild/moderate asthma. Conclusions: Intra-articular administration of TA improves lung function in horses with severe asthma, an effect that persists when TA serum concentration is below the quantification level that is employed as a threshold by the International Association of Racing Commissioners.
Publication Date: 2019-05-22 PubMed ID: 31006122DOI: 10.1111/evj.13128Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

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This research article explores the impact of the corticosteroids drug, specifically triamcinolone acetonide, typically used to treat joint diseases in horses, on improving lung function in horses with severe asthma.

Objective

The research aims to analyze the possible correlation between the use of intra-articular corticosteroids, frequently used to treat joint diseases in horses, and improved lung function in horses with severe asthma. The hypothesis is based on the known efficacy of corticosteroids in treating equine asthma and the potential for joint disease treatments to inadvertently improve asthma, potentially leading to a delay in asthma diagnosis.

Methodology

  • Horses suffering from severe asthma were selected for a random controlled trial.
  • These horses were divided into two groups, a group that received an intra-articular (IA) injection of 20mg of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in both tarsocrural joints, and a group that received an intramuscular (IM) injection of 40mg TA.
  • Lung function and TA serum concentrations were monitored and recorded over a span of 35 days for both groups, with an additional serum concentration evaluation on day 3.

Results

  • Pulmonary resistance and elastance values in the IA group decreased significantly by day 7, while similar decreases in these values were recorded by day 14 in the IM group.
  • Improvement in lung function was observed up to days 21 and 28 in the IA and IM groups, respectively, when compared to baseline data.
  • On day 7, the TA serum levels were below the quantification limit for 4 and 3 of the 5 horses in the respective IA and IM groups.
  • The combined data for pulmonary resistance, elastance, and serum concentrations of TA produced similar trends in both groups.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that the response of horses with severe asthma might differ from that of high-performance horses with mild to moderate asthma.
  • It demonstrated that intra-articular administration of TA improves lung function in horses with severe asthma. This effect persists even when TA serum concentration is below the quantification level that serves as a threshold by the International Association of Racing Commissioners.

This study sheds light on the potential benefits of using intra-articular corticosteroids in treating severe asthma in horses and furthers our understanding of the drug’s effects on lung function.

Cite This Article

APA
Bessonnat A, Picotte K, Lavoie JP. (2019). Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide improves lung function in horses with severe asthma. Equine Vet J, 52(1), 131-135. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13128

Publication

ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 131-135

Researcher Affiliations

Bessonnat, A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Picotte, K
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Lavoie, J P
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Injections, Intra-Articular
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Male
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / administration & dosage
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / therapeutic use

Grant Funding

  • PJT-148807 / Fonds de recherche en Santu00e9 u00c9quine

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP. Glucocorticoid treatment in horses with asthma: A narrative review.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jul;35(4):2045-2057.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16189pubmed: 34085342google scholar: lookup