Phenylbutazone induces equine glandular gastric disease without decreasing prostaglandin E2 concentrations.

The study explores how phenylbutazone, a high-dose drug in horses, leads to gastric diseases. It demonstrates that contrary to popular belief, the usage of this drug does not decrease the concentration of prostaglandin E in horses’ stomachs.

Study Design

• The study involved 12 horses that were randomly split into two groups: one to receive phenylbutazone treatment and the other act as a control group treated with a placebo.
• The treatment group received a dosage of 4.4 mg/kg of phenylbutazone every 12 hours for 7 days, while the placebo group received molasses in the same time intervals without the drug.
• Gastroscopy was conducted, and gastric biopsies were collected from the horses before the treatment began, and again 3 and 7 days after the initiation of the treatment, with all samples stored at -80°C.

Measurement and Analysis

• The level of glandular disease in the horses was graded on a scale of 0 to 4.
• Prostaglandin E concentrations in the biopsied tissues were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a standard laboratory procedure for detecting specific proteins.
• All the horses that received phenylbutazone treatment developed glandular disease of grade 2 or higher.

Findings

• The study found that the concentration of prostaglandin E increased over time, but this increase was not affected by the treatment.
• This result counters the prevalent assumption that phenylbutazone-associated ulceration in horses is due to a decrease in gastric prostaglandins. The research instead shows that phenylbutazone did not lower the base glandular gastric concentration of prostaglandin E, debunking the popular belief.

Implications

• The study’s findings suggest that the mechanisms underpinning the gastric disease induced by phenylbutazone in horses are still not entirely understood. Therefore, additional research is required to comprehend the precise relationship between phenylbutazone and the associated gastric conditions.
• This new information can impact how equine gastroenterology is approached, potentially leading to different preventative measures or treatments.