Occlusion of the digital arteries — A model for pathogenesis of navicular disease.

This research studied the link between blockages in horses’ digital arteries and the development of navicular disease, finding that all diseased horses had some level of artery occlusion. By contrast, minimal obstructions were found in healthy horses, suggesting this could be a significant factor in the disease’s cause.

Methodology

• The researchers used angiography to examine the digital arteries in two groups of horses: 10 suffering from navicular disease and 7 healthy animals acting as a control group.
• Histological investigations were carried out on the occluded vessels to understand the nature of the occlusions.

Findings

• All the horses from the disease group showed occlusions, partial or complete, in the digital arteries.
• In the control group of healthy horses, there were some isolated obstructions, but they were only present as narrowings in some sections of an artery.
• Total occlusion of a vessel usually involved an organised thrombus formation.
• Partial occlusion generally involved changes in the vascular wall, similar to those caused by endarteritis obliterans, an inflammatory condition of the artery’s inner lining.

Implications

• The findings indicate that occlusion in the digital arteries is a predominant feature in horses with navicular disease as compared to healthy horses.
• The occlusions due to thrombus formation and changes similar to endarteritis obliterans might play significant roles in the development of navicular disease.
• These vascular changes could position as significant causes in the pathogenesis of navicular disease.

Conclusions

• The research concludes with a clear correlation between digital artery occlusions and navicular disease in horses.
• Further work is needed to fully understand this association and seek potential treatment or preventive measures focusing on maintaining the health of the digital arteries.