Prospective pre- and post-race evaluation of biochemical, electrophysiologic, and echocardiographic indices in 30 racing thoroughbred horses that received furosemide.
Abstract: Exercise induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) and cardiac dysrhythmias are well described conditions identified in high-level human athletes that increase in frequency with intensity and duration of exercise. Identification of these conditions requires an understanding of normal pre- and post-race cardiac assessment values. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize selected indices of cardiac function, electrophysiologic parameters, and biochemical markers of heart dysfunction prior to and immediately after high level racing in Thoroughbred horses receiving furosemide; and (2) create pre- and post-race reference values in order to make recommendations on possible screening practices for this population in the future. Results: Thirty Thoroughbred horses were enrolled in the study with an age range of 3-6 years. All horses received furosemide prior to racing. Physical exams, ECGs, and echocardiograms were performed prior to racing (T0) and within 30-60 min following the race (T1). Blood samples were obtained at T0, T1, 4 h post-race (T4) and 24 h after the race (T24). Electrolytes, hematocrit, cardiac troponin I, and partial pressure CO2 values were obtained at all time points. Heart rate was significantly increased post-race compared to baseline value with a median difference of 49 bpm, 95% CI [31,58],(P < 0.0001). No dysrhythmias were noted during ECG assessment. Following the race, an increase in number of horses demonstrating regurgitation through the aorta and AV valves was noted. Systolic function measured by fractional shortening increased significantly with a mean difference of 7.9%, 95% CI [4.8, 10.9], (P < 0.0001). Cardiac troponin I was not different at pre- and immediately post-race time points, but was significantly increased at T4 (P < 0.001). Troponin returned to baseline value by T24. Conclusions: This study utilized a before and after study design where each horse served as its own control, as such the possible effect of regression to the mean cannot be ruled out. The reference intervals generated in this study may be used to identify selected echocardiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities in racing horses receiving furosemide.
Publication Date: 2018-01-18 PubMed ID: 29347921PubMed Central: PMC5774161DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1336-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research conducted a systematic study on 30 thoroughbred horses to understand the effects of a high-level race on their cardiac function, electrophysiologic parameters, and certain biochemical markers of heart dysfunction. This was done before and after racing when horses also received furosemide, a drug often used in horse racing industry to prevent pulmonary bleeding.
Objective of Study
- The research had dual objectives of understanding how a high-intensity race affects horses’ cardiac health and generating reference intervals by measuring cardiac health parameters before and after the race.
- These reference intervals were compiled to guide in the preparation of screening practices for race horses in future.
- This detection method aid in early identification and prevention of exercise induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) and cardiac dysrhythmias, potentially life threatening heart conditions that have been detected in high-intensity human athletes.
Procedures and Test Conducted
- The test took into account physical exams, ECGs, and echocardiograms of these horses before the race and within half to one hour after the race.
- Blood samples were also collected at the start of the race, immediately after the race, and 4 and 24 hours after the race.
- These blood samples were studied for their electrolyte composition, hematocrit level, cardiac troponin I level, and partial pressure CO2 values.
Results
- The study concluded that the heart rate significantly increased after the race, by a median difference of 49 bpm.
- However, no dysrhythmias or abnormal rhythms were noted in the ECG assessment.
- There was an increase in the number of horses showing a regurgitation in the aorta and AV valves following the race.
- The systolic function, which was measured by fractional shortening, was significantly increased after the race.
- Cardiac troponin I levels remained the same during pre- and immediately post-race examinations, but increased significantly 4 hours after (T4) the race than reduced to baseline level 24 hours after (T24) the race.
Conclusions and Implications
- While individual horses served as their own controls in this research, the study was not able to rule out the potential effect of regression to the mean.
- The reference intervals gathered in this study can be used to identify echocardiographic and electrocardiographic abnormalities in racing horses receiving furosemide.
- This study provides valuable insights in understanding the impact of high-intensity races on the cardiac health of horses and potentially in developing preventive measures against cardiac ailments in racing thoroughbreds.
Cite This Article
APA
Gunther-Harrington CT, Arthur R, Estell K, Martinez Lopez B, Sinnott A, Ontiveros E, Varga A, Stern JA.
(2018).
Prospective pre- and post-race evaluation of biochemical, electrophysiologic, and echocardiographic indices in 30 racing thoroughbred horses that received furosemide.
BMC Vet Res, 14(1), 18.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1336-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Present Address: Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Leesburg, VA, 20176, USA.
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling And Surveillance (CADMS), Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Present Address: Gold Coast Veterinary Service & Consulting, Esparto, CA, 95627, USA.
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. jstern@ucdavis.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomarkers / blood
- Diuretics / administration & dosage
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Female
- Furosemide / administration & dosage
- Heart Rate
- Heart Valve Diseases / veterinary
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Prospective Studies
- Reference Values
- Running / physiology
- Troponin I / blood
Grant Funding
- 14-04 / Marcia MacDonald Rivas; UC Davis Center for Equine Health
Conflict of Interest Statement
ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: Written consent for participation was obtained from all horse owners. This study was performed in accordance with the institutional animal care and use committee at the University of California Davis (approved IACUC protocol# 18285). CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
References
This article includes 46 references
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Cruz-Aleixo AS, de Oliveira KC, de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Cedeo Quevedo DA, Cruz RKS, Tsunemi MH, Chiacchio SB, Lourenço MLG. Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Parameters in Pega Breed Donkeys: A Descriptive Study.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 27;13(5).
- Banihashemi SH, Samimi AS, Samimi K, Tajik J. Effects of double intravenous furosemide administration at different doses on clinical variables, electrocardiographic indices and serum electrolytes in miniature donkeys.. Vet Res Forum 2023;14(1):53-57.
- Zhang Y, Zheng Y, Wang M, Guo X. Prediction of exercise sudden death in rabbit exhaustive swimming using deep neural network.. Biomed Eng Online 2021 Aug 30;20(1):87.
- Alberti E, Stucchi L, Pesce V, Stancari G, Ferro E, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. Evaluation of a smartphone-based electrocardiogram device accuracy in field and in hospital conditions in horses.. Vet Rec Open 2020;7(1):e000441.
- Samimi AS, Sanjarinejad A. Effects of two-dose intravenous administration of furosemide on clinical variables, electrocardiographic indices and serum electrolytes in dromedary calves.. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jul;7(4):1185-1190.
- Smith JS, Ward JL, Schneider BK, Smith FL, Mueller MS, Heller MC. Comparison of Standard Electrocardiography and Smartphone-Based Electrocardiography Recorded at Two Different Anatomic Locations in Healthy Meat and Dairy Breed Does.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:416.
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