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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Reference values for 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograp...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(6); 2701-2709; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15938

Reference values for 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in Friesian and Warmblood horses.

Abstract: Echocardiographic reference intervals for Friesian horses are poorly described. Objective: To obtain reference intervals for echocardiographic measurements in Friesians and compare these with Warmbloods. Methods: One hundred healthy adult Friesians and 100 healthy adult Warmblood horses. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic images were obtained. Echocardiographic measurements, including size, area, and volumetric measurements of left atrium, left and right ventricle, aorta, and pulmonary artery, were performed. Measurements were compared between the 2 breeds using an independent samples t test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Reference ranges for standard echocardiographic measurements in Friesians were obtained. Several left ventricular measurements were significantly smaller in Friesians compared to Warmbloods, such as the left ventricular end-diastolic volume using the 4-chamber modified Simpsons' method (99.85% confidence interval for the difference [CI] = -245 to -63). Also the right ventricular end-diastolic and peak-systolic internal diameter were smaller in Friesians (99.85% CI = -1.33 to -0.6 and 99.85% CI = -1.54 to -0.76, respectively). Fractional shortening (99.85% CI = 0.61-6) and ejection fraction (99.85% CI = 0.21-4.6) were significantly larger. No structural effects of systemic hypertension, such as concentric hypertrophy, were detected. Conclusions: Our study provides reference intervals for echocardiographic measurements in Friesians useful in a clinical setting. In general, the left ventricular dimensions in Friesians were significantly smaller compared to Warmbloods, emphasizing the need for breed-specific reference intervals.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-24 PubMed ID: 33098342PubMed Central: PMC7694853DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15938Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study gathered data to establish reference ranges for echocardiographic measurements in Friesian horses, and compared these ranges with those from Warmblood horses. This revealed significant differences between the two breeds, highlighting the importance of breed-specific reference intervals.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a cross-sectional investigation involving 100 adult Friesian horses and 100 adult Warmblood horses who were all healthy.
  • The researchers used 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography to observe and capture images of the horses’ heart structures and activity.
  • The echocardiographic measurements performed included assessing the size, area, and volumetric measurements of different parts of the heart: such as the left atrium, the left and right ventricles, aorta, and the pulmonary artery.
  • A computational comparison of these measurements between the two breeds was carried out using an independent samples t test with Bonferroni correction to account for multiple comparisons.

Study Results

  • Reference ranges were obtained for standard echocardiographic measurements in Friesian horses.
  • The findings showed that several measurements of the left ventricle were significantly smaller in Friesian horses when compared with Warmblood horses. This was particularly applicable to the left ventricular end-diastolic volume as measured with the 4-chamber modified Simpsons’ method.
  • The right ventricular end-diastolic and peak-systolic internal diameter were also smaller in Friesian horses.
  • On the other hand, both the fractional shortening and ejection fraction values were significantly larger in Friesian horses.
  • No structural effects of systemic hypertension, such as concentric hypertrophy, were found in the horses.

Conclusions

  • The research provides valuable reference intervals for echocardiographic measurements in Friesian horses that can be used in a clinical setting.
  • The left ventricular dimensions of the Friesian horses were found to be significantly smaller compared to those of Warmblood horses, signifying the importance of taking breed-specific characteristics into account when using echocardiographic measurements for diagnoses.

Cite This Article

APA
Vernemmen I, Vera L, Van Steenkiste G, van Loon G, Decloedt A. (2020). Reference values for 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in Friesian and Warmblood horses. J Vet Intern Med, 34(6), 2701-2709. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15938

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 6
Pages: 2701-2709

Researcher Affiliations

Vernemmen, Ingrid
  • Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vera, Lisse
  • Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Van Steenkiste, Glenn
  • Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
van Loon, Gunther
  • Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Decloedt, Annelies
  • Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography / veterinary
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Reference Values

Grant Funding

  • BOF19/DOC/166 / Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds
  • 1134917N / Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
  • 1S56217N / Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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