Renal replacement therapy in healthy adult horses.

This research explores the use of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) in horses and validates its effectiveness and safety in treating acute renal failure.

Research Overview

In this study, the researchers investigated the viability and safety of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) as a treatment option for horses suffering from Acute Renal Failure (ARF). Previous studies have shown that RRT is a successful treatment in humans for ARF, but its applications in the veterinary world have not been thoroughly explored. The objective was to see if this therapy known for its positive results in humans could be safely and efficiently applied to horses as well.

Methods

• The study included five healthy adult horses.
• Renal Replacement Therapy was performed on the same horses for six hours. In the procedure, the horses were restrained and connected to a commercial RRT machine. The machine was operated with specific flow rates set to facilitate continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.
• Throughout the procedure, vital parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, arterial blood pressure, and urine output, along with several clinicopathologic factors, were monitored and measured.

Findings

• The results showed that RRT was successful in horses, with an average creatinine clearance of 0.127 mL/kg/min and a urea reduction ratio of 24%.
• No adverse effects were detected during the study, but there was a significant decrease in rectal temperature.
• Also, significant changes in serum phosphorus, BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and platelet count were observed. Specifically, there was an increase in serum phosphorus levels, a decrease in BUN levels, a lengthening of prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, and a decrease in platelet count.

Conclusion

The research concluded that Renal Replacement Therapy is effective and can be used safely in adult horses. This brings a potential new treatment approach for horses with Acute Renal Failure, expanding the scope of veterinary medicine and paving way for improved treatments for animals.