Physiological valvular regurgitation in clinically normal young racehorses: prevalence and two-dimensional colour flow Doppler echocardiographic characteristics.
Abstract: Colour flow Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed on 15 horses; 10 Thoroughbreds and 5 Standardbreds; 9 mares, 5 geldings and 1 stallion; mean +/- s.d. 3.4 +/- 1.1 years. Cardiac murmurs were audible in 12 horses (80%), but these had characteristics consistent with functional murmurs in all horses. A standardised two-dimensional (2-D) and M-mode echocardiographic examination was unremarkable in all horses except that aortic valve prolapse was identified in 3 horses, tricuspid valve prolapse in 2 horses and mitral valve prolapse was present in one horse. Colour flow Doppler echocardiography revealed laminar antegrade flow in most sites but variance was noted in the right ventricular outflow tract in some horses. Small regurgitant jets associated with the aortic valve were seen in 12 horses (80%), with the tricuspid valve in 7 horses (46%), with the pulmonary valve in 4 horses (26%) and the mitral valve in 4 horses (26%). It was concluded that with colour flow Doppler echocardiography, as in other species, small regurgitant jets could be detected in many normal horses.
Publication Date: 1995-09-01 PubMed ID: 8933070DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb04990.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article studies the prevalence and characteristics of physiological valvular regurgitation in clinically normal young racehorses using colour flow Doppler echocardiographic examinations. It reveals that small regurgitant jets, associated with various heart valves, could be detected in many of these normal horses.
Study Design and Participants
- The researchers conducted colour flow Doppler echocardiographic examinations on 15 horses. Out of these, 10 were Thoroughbreds and 5 were Standardbreds. The sample also included a variety of gender and age differences with 9 mares, 5 geldings, and 1 stallion, and a mean age of 3.4 years (+/- s.d. 1.1 years).
Audiology Results
- Audible cardiac murmurs were detected in 12 out of the 15 horses (80%). However, the characteristics of these murmurs were consistent with functional murmurs, meaning they weren’t indicative of a pathological condition.
Echocardiographic Findings
- All horses went through a standard two-dimensional (2-D) and M-mode echocardiographic examination. The findings were normal except that aortic valve prolapse was detected in 3 horses, tricuspid valve prolapse in 2 horses, and mitral valve prolapse in 1 horse.
- Colour flow Doppler echocardiography highlighted laminar antegrade flow in most sites, with some variance noted in the right ventricular outflow tract in certain horses.
- Small regurgitant jets, which are backflows of blood due to incomplete valve closure, were detected at different valves. These were detected at the aortic valve in 12 horses (80%), at the tricuspid valve in 7 horses (46%), at the pulmonary valve in 4 horses (26%), and at the mitral valve in 4 horses (26%).
Conclusions
- Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that small regurgitant jets could be detected in many normal horses. This is similar to what is observed in other species when using colour flow Doppler echocardiography. The detected regurgitation is physiological, representing a norm rather than a pathological condition.
Cite This Article
APA
Marr CM, Reef VB.
(1995).
Physiological valvular regurgitation in clinically normal young racehorses: prevalence and two-dimensional colour flow Doppler echocardiographic characteristics.
Equine Vet J Suppl(19), 56-62.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb04990.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / methods
- Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Murmurs / epidemiology
- Heart Murmurs / physiopathology
- Heart Murmurs / veterinary
- Heart Valve Diseases / epidemiology
- Heart Valve Diseases / physiopathology
- Heart Valve Diseases / veterinary
- Heart Valves / diagnostic imaging
- Heart Valves / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Incidence
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Jong MV, Leegwater PAJ, Fieten H, Szatmári V. Prevalence of Echocardiographic Evidence of Trace Mitral and Aortic Valve Regurgitation in 50 Clinically Healthy, Young Adult Labrador Retrievers without Heart Murmur. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 16;12(18).
- Hallowell GD, Bowen M. Reliability and identification of aortic valve prolapse in the horse. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jan 11;9:9.
- Hallowell GD, Potter TJ, Bowen IM. Reliability of quantitative echocardiography in adult sheep and goats. BMC Vet Res 2012 Sep 27;8:181.
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