Plasma trypsin level in horses suffering from acute intestinal obstruction.

The research article investigates the levels of a key enzyme, trypsin, in horses suffering from acute intestinal obstruction, a condition often associated with severe outcomes such as endotoxic shock. The study also explored the possible implications of trypsin levels on the overall health of the horses, including potential damage to other organs like the pancreas.

Study Overview

• The researchers sought to determine the range of enzymatically active trypsin (EAT) in healthy horses and compare this with the EAT levels in horses experiencing acute abdominal crises, during anesthetic treatment, and post-surgery.
• A key focus was the correlation between EAT levels and outcomes of surgical intervention for colic in horses, including survival rates and differences in EAT values based on the duration of colic before treatment.
• They also examined the changes in EAT levels in horses with small intestine obstructions when compared to those with large bowel disorders.

Significant Findings

• The data showed that 59% of the horses with surgical colic had significantly higher plasma EAT levels when compared to the established reference range.
• The EAT levels were also found to be notably higher in cases of severe shock, and increased significantly during the postoperative phase.
• Importantly, a higher EAT value was observed in horses that did not survive short duration colic, implying a potential correlation between trypsin levels and survival rates in colic cases.
• The EAT plasma values were found to be significantly higher in horses with small intestine obstructions than in those with large bowel disorders.

Implications and Future Research

• The findings suggest that high EAT values may be indicative of acute abdomen issues in horses, similar to how increased enzymatic activity is seen in humans suffering from hypovolemic or septic shock.
• There are indications that high levels of trypsin can trigger inflammatory reactions and leucocyte activation, which in turn could lead to multiple organ failure – this is a potential area for additional research and exploration.
• The article suggests the need for further studies to better understand the implications of changes in plasma trypsin during the disease process relating to the equine acute abdomen.
• Moreover, more research is needed to validate the potential correlation between high EAT values and pancreatic damage in horses.