Intravascular and peritoneal coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses with acute gastrointestinal tract diseases.

This study analyzed the components of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses that have acute gastrointestinal diseases. It found that the presence or absence of certain proteins in peritoneal (abdominal cavity) fluid is related to the survival rate of the horses, and thus could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to examine the compounds connected to the processes of coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses suffering from acute gastrointestinal illnesses.
• Measurements were taken from the blood and peritoneal fluid of 20 healthy horses as controls, and from 153 horses that presented with the acute diseases on their arrival to the hospital.

Key Findings

• The study noted that 77% (117/153) of the affected horses survived and were discharged, and 85% (82/97) of those discharged were reported to be in normal health 9 to 14 months later.
• There were significant differences seen more often in the peritoneal fluid than in blood when it came to factors related to hemostasis (stopping bleeding).
• The activities and concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen, protein C, antithrombin III, and alpha 2-antiplasmin, and quantities of fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products, were considerably elevated in the peritoneal fluid of colicky horses.
• Higher values of these components (except tissue plasminogen activator activity) were significantly associated with the survival of the horse. Similarly, plasminogen, antithrombin III, and alpha 2-antiplasmin activities were significantly higher in peritoneal fluid from horses with inflammatory or strangulating lesions as opposed to those from horses with uncomplicated colic.

Important Contributions

• Horses with acute gastrointestinal diseases presented with an increase in plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 activity, fibrin degradation products concentration, and prothrombin time in their blood.
• Survival was inversely related to greater intravascular concentrations of fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen and prothrombin time, indicating that these factors could be used as potential markers of disease severity.
• The research highlighted the significant differences between peritoneal and intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis processes in horses with colic, which suggests that analysis of blood alone does not provide a comprehensive understanding of the fibrinolytic capacity within the peritoneal environment.