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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Pulmonary response of severely asthmatic horses after intra-...
Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(1); 78-84; doi: 10.1111/evj.13272

Pulmonary response of severely asthmatic horses after intra-articular administration of methylprednisolone.

Abstract: Intra-articular (IA) administration of corticosteroids is performed routinely in equine practice. The lung function of severe asthmatic horses has recently been shown to be improved by IA triamcinolone acetonide (TA). We therefore hypothesised that IA methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), another commonly used corticosteroids, would also decrease the airway obstruction in severe asthmatic horses. Objective: To compare the effects of intra-articular (IA) and intramuscular (IM) methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) administration on lung function and serum cortisol levels in horses with severe asthma. Methods: Randomised and controlled experiments on severe asthmatic research animals. Methods: Severe asthmatic horses in exacerbation were administered 200 mg of MPA either intramuscularly (n = 6) or via intra-articular injections in the tarsocrural joints (n = 6; 100 mg/joint). Serum cortisol concentration and pulmonary function was measured for 8 days. Results: A significant decrease in pulmonary resistance in the IA group (P = .003, mean diff 1.14) on day 1 in comparison with baseline was observed. A significant decrease from baseline was also observed on serum cortisol values in the IA group 6 hours after injection (P = .001, mean diff 44.5), and at day 1 (P = .003, mean diff 45.1). Conclusions: Joint health was not evaluated in the current study and the physiological response of the severe asthmatic horses might deviate from that of the milder forms of asthma. Conclusions: MPA IA administration improves the lung function of severe asthmatic horses. However, this effect was mild and of a short duration.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-19 PubMed ID: 32348605DOI: 10.1111/evj.13272Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research conducted focused on understanding the impact of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), a corticosteroid, on the lung function and serum cortisol levels in horses with severe asthma. The findings demonstrated that intra-articular (IA) administration of MPA resulted in a brief improvement in lung function and decreased serum cortisol levels.

Objective and Hypothesis of the Research

  • The primary aim of the research was to analyze the effects of IA and intramuscular (IM) administration of MPA on lung function and serum cortisol levels in horses diagnosed with severe asthma.
  • This research was hinged on the hypothesis that given the previous demonstration of improved lung function in severe asthmatic horses due to the administration of another corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide (TA), IA administration of MPA could potentially offer similar benefits.

Research Methodology

  • The research was executed as a randomised and controlled experiment with severe asthmatic horses in exacerbation.
  • Twelve severe asthmatic horses were randomly selected and divided into two groups: one group received MPA through intramuscular injection (n=6), and the other via intra-articular injections in the tarsocrural joints (n=6; 100 mg/joint).
  • The researchers monitored and measured serum cortisol concentration and pulmonary function for eight consecutive days after the administration of MPA.

Research Findings and Conclusion

  • The results showed a significant decrease in pulmonary resistance in the group that received IA administration of MPA, indicating improvement in lung function. The serum cortisol values also decreased significantly in the IA group six hours after injection.
  • However, the study noted that these effects were mild and short-term.
  • Furthermore, the researchers stated that the joint health of the horses was not evaluated in the current study, and hence future research might consider this aspect. This could provide insight into whether using corticosteroids for IA comes with any side effects related to joint health.

Cite This Article

APA
Millares-Ramirez EM, Picotte K, Lavoie JP. (2020). Pulmonary response of severely asthmatic horses after intra-articular administration of methylprednisolone. Equine Vet J, 53(1), 78-84. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13272

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 1
Pages: 78-84

Researcher Affiliations

Millares-Ramirez, Esther M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Picotte, Khristine
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
Lavoie, Jean-Pierre
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Injections, Intra-Articular / veterinary
  • Lung
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Methylprednisolone Acetate
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / therapeutic use

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP. Glucocorticoid treatment in horses with asthma: A narrative review.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jul;35(4):2045-2057.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16189pubmed: 34085342google scholar: lookup
  2. Gao YY, Tian W, Zhang HN, Sun Y, Meng JR, Cao W, Li XQ. Canonical transient receptor potential channels and their modulators: biology, pharmacology and therapeutic potentials.. Arch Pharm Res 2021 Apr;44(4):354-377.
    doi: 10.1007/s12272-021-01319-5pubmed: 33763843google scholar: lookup
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