Pericarditis in horses: 18 cases (1986-1995).
Abstract: To determine clinical signs of pericarditis in horses and to determine whether there were any relationships among clinical signs, echocardiographic findings, treatment, and outcome. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 18 horses. Results: Physical examination was performed on 16 horses. Cardiovascular abnormalities included tachycardia (n = 16), pericardial friction rub (10), venous distention (7), murmur (7), muffled heart sounds (6), weak arterial pulse (6), jugular pulse (6), and edema (5). Twelve horses also had respiratory abnormalities; the most common was dull lung sounds, ventrally, suggestive of pleural effusion (10). Echocardiography was the most important tool for diagnosis of pericarditis. Detection of clinical signs of right-sided heart failure was significantly associated with severe accumulation of pericardial effusion and with detection of cardiac compromise. Severe accumulation of pericardial effusion was also significantly associated with echocardiographic detection of cardiac compromise. Pericarditis was idiopathic in 6 horses, and bacterial in 5. Five horses had nonseptic pericarditis associated with bacterial respiratory disease, and 2 had nonseptic pericarditis associated with viral respiratory disease. Fourteen of the 18 horses were treated specifically for pericarditis; 10 received antimicrobials and 6 with suspected immune-mediated pericarditis received corticosteroids. Pericardial drainage and lavage were performed on 6 horses in which pericardial effusion or fibrin accumulation was compromising cardiac function. Pericarditis resolved in all 14 horses that were treated, and all 14 returned to their prior intended use. Conclusions: With early detection of disease and aggressive treatment, the prognosis for horses with pericarditis is good.
Publication Date: 1998-02-04 PubMed ID: 9448830
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores the clinical signs of pericarditis, a heart condition, in horses and determines any correlations between these signs, echocardiographic findings, treatment, and outcome. The study concluded that early detection and aggressive treatment of pericarditis in horses lead to good prognoses.
Study Methodology
- As a retrospective study, this research reviewed past cases rather than conducting real-time experiments.
- The study looked at 18 horses that had diagnosed pericarditis from 1986 to 1995.
- A physical examination was performed on 16 of these horses, while echocardiography, an imaging test that uses sound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, was used in all cases for diagnosis.
Key Findings
- The most common clinical signs associated with pericarditis included tachycardia (a fast heart rate), pericardial friction rub (an abnormal sound from the heart), venous distention (abnormal swelling or accumulation of fluid), and heart murmurs.
- Respiratory abnormalities were also noted in twelve horses, with the most common being dull lung sounds suggestive of pleural effusion (a buildup of fluid in the chest cavity).
- Specific clinical signs of right-sided heart failure were significantly associated with the severe accumulation of pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart) and detection of heart complications.
Causes and Treatment of Pericarditis
- The origin of pericarditis was varied; it was idiopathic (unknown cause) in 6 horses, bacterial in 5, and other cases were related to bacterial or viral respiratory diseases.
- Fourteen of the eighteen horses were specifically treated for pericarditis with medications including antimicrobials or corticosteroids for those with suspected immune-mediated pericarditis.
- Six horses underwent pericardial drainage and lavage (washing out), a procedure in which fluid or fibrin accumulation compromising cardiac function was removed.
Outcome and Prognosis
- All horses that received treatment for pericarditis recovered, and reverted to their intended use, demonstrating that the condition resolved successfully under appropriate and timely interventions.
- The study concluded that early detection and aggressive treatment lead to a good prognosis for horses with pericarditis.
Cite This Article
APA
Worth LT, Reef VB.
(1998).
Pericarditis in horses: 18 cases (1986-1995).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 212(2), 248-253.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
- Echocardiography / methods
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Pericardial Effusion / physiopathology
- Pericardial Effusion / veterinary
- Pericarditis / drug therapy
- Pericarditis / physiopathology
- Pericarditis / veterinary
- Prognosis
- Respiration / physiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / physiopathology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Chapuis RJJ, Ragno VM, Ariza CA, Movasseghi AR, Sayi S, Uehlinger FD, Montgomery JB. Septic fibrinous pericarditis in 4 horses in Saskatchewan following an outbreak of forest tent caterpillars in 2017. Can Vet J 2020 Jul;61(7):724-730.
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