Periparturient hemorrhage in mares: 73 cases (1998-2005).
Abstract: To determine signalment, physical examination and clinicopathologic abnormalities, outcome, and subsequent fertility of mares with periparturient hemorrhage (PPH) and identify factors associated with outcome (ie, survival vs death). Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 73 mares. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on age, breed, initial complaint, physical examination and clinicopathologic abnormalities, treatment, outcome, and subsequent fertility. Results: Median age was 14.0 years (range, 5 to 24 years), and median number of foals produced prior to the diagnosis of PPH was 8 (range, 1 to 16). Ten (14%) mares had prepartum hemorrhage and 63 (86%) had postpartum hemorrhage. Treatment was aimed at restoring cardiovascular volume, enhancing coagulation, controlling pain, and reducing the effects of endotoxemia. Sixty-one (84%) mares survived and 12 (16%) died or were euthanized. Common complications included fever, leukopenia, retained fetal membranes, increased digital pulses, thrombophlebitis, and cardiac arrhythmias. Of the 53 surviving mares for which subsequent breeding information was available, 26 (49%) produced 1 or more foals after recovering from PPH. Conclusions: Results suggested that PPH can develop in mares of any age and parity. Treatment was associated with a good prognosis for survival and a reasonable prognosis for future fertility.
Publication Date: 2008-05-02 PubMed ID: 18447780DOI: 10.2460/javma.232.9.1345Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article aims to analyze the condition of periparturient hemorrhage (PPH) in mares, evaluating data from 73 cases regarding features like age, breed, associated conditions, treatment, survival and future fertility rates.
Introduction and methods
- The research discussed is a retrospective case series analysis focused on periparturient hemorrhage or PPH in mares.
- The sample size for the study comprises of 73 mares whose medical records provided vital data such as age, breed, initial complaint, physical examination results, and clinical abnormalities.
- The information about the treatments received, the ultimate outcome, and future fertility rates were also collected from these records.
Key findings
- The median age of the mares in the study was 14 years, with an age range from 5 to 24 years.
- The majority of the mares (86%) experienced PPH postpartum, while a smaller group (14%) suffered from prepartum PPH.
- The average number of foals sired by these mares prior to their PPH diagnosis was identified to be 8, indicating PPH can occur regardless of previous pregnancies.
- Treatment strategies were targeted at restoring cardiovascular volume, managing pain, enhancing coagulation, and mitigating the effects of endotoxemia.
- The study found a significant survival rate of 84% with the above-mentioned treatments, with only 16% of the mares dying or needing to be euthanized.
Complications & Future Fertility
- Common complications noted in conjunction with PPH include fever, retention of fetal membranes, leukopenia (i.e., reduced white blood cell count), increased digital pulses, thrombophlebitis (vein inflammation due to a blood clot), and cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).
- Of the surviving mares whose subsequent breeding information was available, almost half (49%) were able to produce one or more foals after recovering from PPH.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that PPH can develop in mares of any age and parity (number of pregnancies that have passed the point of viability).
- The treatment prescribed for PPH demonstrated promising results for survival and a reasonable prognosis for future fertility.
Cite This Article
APA
Arnold CE, Payne M, Thompson JA, Slovis NM, Bain FT.
(2008).
Periparturient hemorrhage in mares: 73 cases (1998-2005).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 232(9), 1345-1351.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.232.9.1345 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Female
- Fertility / physiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Parity
- Postpartum Hemorrhage / epidemiology
- Postpartum Hemorrhage / mortality
- Postpartum Hemorrhage / pathology
- Postpartum Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Survival Analysis
- Uterine Hemorrhage / epidemiology
- Uterine Hemorrhage / mortality
- Uterine Hemorrhage / pathology
- Uterine Hemorrhage / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Epstein KL, Hart KA, Chakravarty EJ, Giguère S. Comparison of Fibrinolysis in Peripartum and Non-Pregnant Mares Using Modified Thromboelastography. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 20;15(13).
- Rapezzano G, Marcatili M, Stephenson R, Pereira R, Hallowell G, Duz M. Evaluation of peritoneal l-lactate concentration in horses in the early post-partum period. Vet Med Sci 2024 May;10(3):e1352.
- Hargett SE, Leslie EF, Chapa HO, Gaharwar AK. Animal models of postpartum hemorrhage. Lab Anim (NY) 2024 Apr;53(4):93-106.
- Jamieson CA, Baillie SL, Johnson JP. Blood Transfusion in Equids-A Practical Approach and Review. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 23;12(17).
- Beckers KF, Schulz CJ, Flanagan JP, Adams DM, Gomes VCL, Liu CC, Childers GW, Sones JL. Sex-specific effects of maternal weight loss on offspring cardiometabolic outcomes in the obese preeclamptic-like mouse model, BPH/5. Physiol Rep 2022 Sep;10(17):e15444.
- Politis AP, Vasileiou NGC, Cripps PJ, Liagka DV, Boufis PT, Valasi I, Mavrogianni VS, Fthenakis GC. Mortality of Dairy Sheep during the Peri-Parturient Period: Results of a Field Investigation in Greece. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 22;11(8).
- Doodnaught GM, O'Toole E, Pang DSJ. Management of a severe peripartum hemorrhage following cesarean section in a dog. Can Vet J 2020 Jun;61(6):589-594.
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