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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Relationship between clinical signs and lung function in hor...
Equine veterinary journal2000; 32(5); 393-400; doi: 10.2746/042516400777591147

Relationship between clinical signs and lung function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) during a bronchodilator trial.

Abstract: During a trial to determine the dose response to the beta2-adrenergic agonist pirbuterol, we judged the severity of airway obstruction by use of a clinical scoring system and compared this to objective data obtained by quantitative measures of lung function. Six horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction were used in this trial. Four hundred and sixty-eight measurements of lung function and clinical scores were obtained from 13 measurement periods when horses received each of 6 doses of pirbuterol. Scores of 1-4 were assigned to degree of nasal flaring and abdominal effort and summed for a total score. The veterinarian scoring the signs did not know the dose of pirbuterol received by the horse and was unaware of the lung function data. Nasal, abdominal and total scores were significantly related to changes in lung function and changes in breathing pattern. There were significant differences between total scores greater than 5 in indices that reflected changes in breathing strategy (peak inspiratory and expiratory flow), peripheral airway obstruction (dynamic elastance), and effort of breathing (maximal change in pleural pressure). Below a total score of 5, there were fewer significant differences in lung function even though measurements of pulmonary resistance and dynamic elastance indicated considerable airway obstruction. Failure of clinical score to reflect this low-grade airway obstruction suggests that airway disease is underdiagnosed and its detection would be helped by the availability of a convenient lung function test.
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Publication Date: 2000-10-19 PubMed ID: 11037260DOI: 10.2746/042516400777591147Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 article is about a study examining the connection between visible clinical signs and lung function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction by utilizing a dose response trial with a beta2-adrenergic agonist, pirbuterol.

Introduction and Objective of the Study

  • The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correspondence between the external signs, gauged through a clinical scoring system, and internal lung conditions in horses suffering from recurrent airway obstruction. This is accomplished through a bronchodilator trial using pirbuterol, a beta2-adrenergic agonist.

Methodology

  • For the trial, six horses with recurrent airway obstruction were chosen and each horse received six varying doses of pirbuterol across 13 measurement periods.
  • During these periods, clinical signs such as nasal flaring and abdominal effort were scored on a scale of 1-4 and then summed up for a final score. Lung function data were collected concurrently. A key point is the veterinarian evaluating the clinical signs was blinded to the pirbuterol dosages and to the lung function data.

Findings

  • The study found a significant link between the obtained clinical scores and changes in lung function and breathing pattern. The clinical scores showed substantial differences in lung function indices depicting changes in breathing strategy, peripheral airway obstruction, and breathing effort when the total score was beyond 5. These indices consisted of peak inspiratory and expiratory flow, dynamic elastance, and the maximum variation in pleural pressure.
  • However, for scores lower than 5, the study documented fewer significant deviations in lung function, though measurements indicated extensive airway obstruction. This discrepancy led to the conclusion that the clinical scoring system may be underdiagnosing airway disease and would benefit from an accompanying lung function test.

Conclusion

  • The findings of this research suggest that a clinical scoring system alone might fail to detect milder forms of airway obstruction in horses. Therefore, a supplementary lung function test might be necessary for a more accurate and comprehensive diagnosis of airway diseases in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Robinson NE, Olszewski MA, Boehler D, Berney C, Hakala J, Matson C, Derksen FJ. (2000). Relationship between clinical signs and lung function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) during a bronchodilator trial. Equine Vet J, 32(5), 393-400. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516400777591147

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 5
Pages: 393-400

Researcher Affiliations

Robinson, N E
  • Pulmonary Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1314, USA.
Olszewski, M A
    Boehler, D
      Berney, C
        Hakala, J
          Matson, C
            Derksen, F J

              MeSH Terms

              • Airway Obstruction / physiopathology
              • Airway Obstruction / veterinary
              • Animals
              • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
              • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
              • Ethanolamines / administration & dosage
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
              • Horses
              • Lung / physiopathology
              • Male
              • Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
              • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / physiopathology
              • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / veterinary

              Citations

              This article has been cited 22 times.
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