FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Prognostic Significance of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate fo...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2026; 16(3); 476; doi: 10.3390/ani16030476

Prognostic Significance of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate for Survival in Equine Colic.

Abstract: Accurate early prognostic assessment is a central aspect of clinical decision-making in horses presenting with colic. Despite the availability of multiple clinical and laboratory parameters, reliable biomarkers that provide useful information at the time of admission remain limited. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a non-specific indicator of systemic inflammation that has recently been validated for automated point-of-care use in horses. Its behaviour in equine colic has not been previously characterised. This study included 85 horses admitted for colic at two university referral hospitals. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was measured at admission in all horses and again approximately 24 h after surgery in a subset of surgical cases. Horses were classified as medically managed, surgical survivors or surgical non-survivors. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric statistical methods, and associations with survival were evaluated. The admission erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly lower in surgical non-survivors compared to the other groups ( < 0.05). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate rose in surviving horses within 24 h, while it barely changed among non-survivors, and there were no significant changes among surgical values. Actually, these observations suggest that low erythrocyte sedimentation rates on admission are associated with low chances of survival for horses undergoing colic surgery and thus make these rates a feasible additional prognostic indicator for equine colic.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2026-02-03 PubMed ID: 41681457PubMed Central: PMC12896511DOI: 10.3390/ani16030476Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Cite This Article

APA
Meistro F, Rinnovati R, Blanc E, Berni P, Napoli S, Marcucci E, D'Angelo P, Ruggeri M, Spadari A, Gialletti R. (2026). Prognostic Significance of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate for Survival in Equine Colic. Animals (Basel), 16(3), 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030476

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
PII: 476

Researcher Affiliations

Meistro, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
Rinnovati, Riccardo
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
Blanc, Edoardo
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, PR, Italy.
Berni, Priscilla
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, PR, Italy.
Napoli, Silvia
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, PR, Italy.
Marcucci, Elisa
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
D'Angelo, Paola
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
Ruggeri, Marco
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, PR, Italy.
Spadari, Alessandro
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, BO, Italy.
Gialletti, Rodolfo
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, PR, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

This article includes 33 references
  1. Archer D.C. Equine colic: Putting the puzzle together. Vet. Rec. 2017;181:291. doi: 10.1136/vr.j4161.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.j4161pubmed: 28916691google scholar: lookup
  2. Archer D.C., Proudman C.J. Epidemiological clues to preventing colic. Vet. J. 2006;172:29–39. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.04.002.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.04.002pubmed: 15939639google scholar: lookup
  3. Proudman C.J. A two-year prospective survey of equine colic in general practice. Equine Vet. J. 1992;24:90–93. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02789.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02789.xpubmed: 1582399google scholar: lookup
  4. Fereig R.M. A review on equine colic: Etiology, differential diagnosis, therapy, and prevention. Ger. J. Vet. Res. 2023;3:1–12. doi: 10.51585/gjvr.2023.4.0063.
    doi: 10.51585/gjvr.2023.4.0063google scholar: lookup
  5. Reeves M.J. What really causes colic in horses? Epidemiology’s role in elucidating the ultimate multi-factorial disease. Equine Vet. J. 1997;29:413–414. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03150.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03150.xpubmed: 9413710google scholar: lookup
  6. Matthews L.B., Sanz M., Sellon D.C. Long-term outcome after colic surgery: A retrospective study of 106 horses in the USA (2014–2021) Front. Vet. Sci. 2023;10:1235198. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1235198.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1235198pmc: PMC10582563pubmed: 37859945google scholar: lookup
  7. Findley J.A., Salem S., Burgess R., Archer D.C. Factors associated with survival of horses following relaparotomy. Equine Vet. J. 2017;49:448–453. doi: 10.1111/evj.12635.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12635pubmed: 27566923google scholar: lookup
  8. Spadari A., Gialletti R., Gandini M., Valle E., Cerullo A., Cavallini D., Bertoletti A., Rinnovati R., Forni G., Scilimati N., et al. Short-term survival and postoperative complication rates in horses undergoing colic surgery: A multicentre study. Animals. 2023;13:1107. doi: 10.3390/ani13061107.
    doi: 10.3390/ani13061107pmc: PMC10044551pubmed: 36978647google scholar: lookup
  9. Gandini M., Cerullo A., Giusto G. Occurrence and definitions of postoperative complications in equine colic surgery: A scoping review. Equine Vet. J. 2023;55:563–572. doi: 10.1111/evj.13881.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13881pubmed: 36199160google scholar: lookup
  10. Ihler C.F., Larsen J., Venger J., Skjerve E. Evaluation of clinical and laboratory variables as prognostic indicators in hospitalized horses with gastrointestinal colic. Acta Vet. Scand. 2004;45:109–118. doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-45-109.
    doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-45-109pmc: PMC1820986pubmed: 15535091google scholar: lookup
  11. Mickevičienė I., Mikalauskienė D., Miknienė Z. Prognostic importance of physiological and biochemical parameters in horses afflicted with colic. Open Vet. J. 2024;14:1801–1807. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.8.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.8pmc: PMC11415896pubmed: 39308735google scholar: lookup
  12. Tharwat M., Al-Sobayil F. Equine colic: Sonographic evaluation, diagnostic criteria, and management of different categories. Open Vet. J. 2025;15:1116–1139. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i3.5.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i3.5pmc: PMC12017722pubmed: 40276205google scholar: lookup
  13. Southwood L.L. Early identification of intestinal strangulation: Why it is important and how to make an early diagnosis. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2023;39:211–227. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.007.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.03.007pubmed: 37105779google scholar: lookup
  14. Long A.E., Lester G.D., Mair T.S., Barton J.S., Southwood L.L. Use of multiple admission variables better predicts intestinal strangulation in horses with colic than peritoneal or the ratio of peritoneal-to-blood L-lactate concentration. Equine Vet. J. 2024;56:437–448. doi: 10.1111/evj.13977.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13977pubmed: 37539736google scholar: lookup
  15. Yamout S.Z., Nieto J.E., Beldomenico P.M., Dechant J.E., LeJeune S., Snyder J.R. Peritoneal and plasma D-lactate concentrations in horses with colic. Vet. Surg. 2011;40:817–824. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2011.00859.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2011.00859.xpubmed: 21815898google scholar: lookup
  16. Barros A.M.C., Camargo M.M., Nichi M., Belli C.B. Blood and peritoneal lactate in equine colic: Application in emergency care and construction of a decision tree. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 2024;76:e13210. doi: 10.1590/1678-4162-13210.
    doi: 10.1590/1678-4162-13210google scholar: lookup
  17. Long A., Nolen-Walston R. Equine inflammatory markers in the twenty-first century: A focus on serum amyloid A. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2020;36:147–160. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.12.005.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.12.005pmc: PMC7135104pubmed: 32007299google scholar: lookup
  18. Pihl T.H., Scheel M.K., Andersen P.H., Kjelgaard-Hansen M., Jacobsen S. Acute-phase proteins as diagnostic markers in horses with colic. J. Vet. Emerg. Crit. Care. 2016;26:664–674. doi: 10.1111/vec.12504.
    doi: 10.1111/vec.12504pubmed: 27384962google scholar: lookup
  19. Ludwig E.K., Hobbs K.J., McKinney-Aguirre C.A., Gonzalez L.M. Biomarkers of intestinal injury in equine colic. Animals. 2023;13:227. doi: 10.3390/ani13020227.
    doi: 10.3390/ani13020227pmc: PMC9854801pubmed: 36670767google scholar: lookup
  20. Saadeh C. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate: Old and new clinical applications. South. Med. J. 1998;91:220–225. doi: 10.1097/00007611-199803000-00001.
    doi: 10.1097/00007611-199803000-00001pubmed: 9521358google scholar: lookup
  21. Brigden M.L. Clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Am. Fam. Physician. 1999;60:1443–1450.
    pubmed: 10524488
  22. Diamanti D., Pieroni C., Pennisi M.G., Marchetti V., Gori E., Paltrinieri S., Lubas G. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate in veterinary medicine: A focused review in dogs and cats. Animals. 2025;15:246. doi: 10.3390/ani15020246.
    doi: 10.3390/ani15020246pmc: PMC11758338pubmed: 39858246google scholar: lookup
  23. Osbaldiston G.W. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate studies in sheep, dog, and horse. Cornell Vet. 1971;61:386–399.
    pubmed: 4998626
  24. Benvenutti M.E.M., Miranda J.A.L., Costa Á.H.C., Jorge S.M., Vaz A.F.M. Diagnostic efficacy of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in horses: An integrative systematic review. Res. Soc. Dev. 2022;11:e26911326416. doi: 10.33448/rsd-v11i3.26416.
    doi: 10.33448/rsd-v11i3.26416google scholar: lookup
  25. Pieroni C., Grassi A., Pantoli M., Berretti M., Messina S., Giovannini C., Lubas G., Diamanti D. Analytical validation of MINI-PET as a point-of-care for erythrocyte sedimentation rate measure in horses. Vet. Med. Int. 2023;2023:9965095. doi: 10.1155/2023/9965095.
    doi: 10.1155/2023/9965095pmc: PMC10665103pubmed: 38023429google scholar: lookup
  26. Yale S.H., Bray C., Bell L.N., Liang H., Haykal R., Kaiksow F., Mazza J.J. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein measurements and their relevance in clinical medicine. WMJ. 2014;113:6–11.
    pubmed: 29094869
  27. Morris D.D. Endotoxemia in horses: A review of cellular and humoral mediators involved in its pathogenesis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 1991;5:167–181. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1991.tb00944.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1991.tb00944.xpubmed: 1920254google scholar: lookup
  28. Moore J.N., Vandenplas M.L. Is it the systemic inflammatory response syndrome or endotoxemia in horses with colic? Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2014;30:337–351. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.04.003.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.04.003pubmed: 25016495google scholar: lookup
  29. Allen B.V. Relationships between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, plasma proteins and viscosity, and leucocyte counts in Thoroughbred racehorses. Vet. Rec. 1988;122:329–332. doi: 10.1136/vr.122.14.329.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.122.14.329pubmed: 3381437google scholar: lookup
  30. Moore J.N., Morris D.D. Endotoxemia and septicemia in horses: Experimental and clinical correlates. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1992;200:1903–1914. doi: 10.2460/javma.1992.200.12.1903.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.1992.200.12.1903pubmed: 1639695google scholar: lookup
  31. Oikawa M.A., Yamaoka S. Clinical, hematological, and biochemical analysis of experimental endotoxemia in Thoroughbred horses. J. Vet. Med. Sci. 2003;65:857–861. doi: 10.1294/jes.14.5.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.14.5google scholar: lookup
  32. Oikawa M., Shiga J. Equine endotoxemia: Pathomorphological aspects of endotoxin-induced damage in equine mesenteric arteries. J. Vet. Med. Sci. 1997;59:1023–1027. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0442.2002.00436.x.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0442.2002.00436.xpubmed: 12069257google scholar: lookup
  33. Sheats M.K. A comparative review of equine SIRS, sepsis, and neutrophils. Front. Vet. Sci. 2019;6:69. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00069.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00069pmc: PMC6424004pubmed: 30931316google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,034 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.