Risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization: 73 cases (1997-2004).
Abstract: To identify risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization for illness or injury. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 73 horses that developed laminitis (case horses) and 146 horses that did not develop laminitis (control horses) during hospitalization. Methods: Case and control horses were matched in a 2:1 ratio by the date on which each horse was evaluated. Potential risk factors investigated included age, breed, and sex; highest and lowest values recorded during hospitalization for fibrinogen concentration, WBC count, PCV, and total solids concentration; and comorbid disease states, including pneumonia, endotoxemia, diarrhea, medically treated colic, surgically treated colic, pituitary adenoma, retained placenta or metritis, forelimb lameness, hind limb lameness, acute renal failure, and vascular abnormalities. A univariate screening of all potential risk factors was performed to determine which variables should be selected for further analysis. All factors found to be associated with development of laminitis were included in a multivariate conditional logistic regression model. Results: Development of laminitis was marginally associated with lowest and highest fibrinogen concentrations, highest PCV, and lowest total solids concentration and significantly associated with pneumonia, endotoxemia, diarrhea, abdominal surgery for colic, and vascular abnormalities. In the multivariate analysis, only endotoxemia was significantly associated with laminitis. Conclusions: Endotoxemia is an important risk factor for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization for medical or surgical conditions. Early recognition of endotoxemia, or the potential for it to develop in certain disease states, and initiation of treatment directed at endotoxemia or its consequences may help prevent laminitis in horses during hospitalization.
Publication Date: 2007-03-17 PubMed ID: 17362165DOI: 10.2460/javma.230.6.885Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research aimed to identify factors that increase the risk of horses developing acute laminitis during hospitalization. The findings suggest that endotoxemia is a significant risk factor.
Study Design and Methods
- The researchers carried out a retrospective case-control study involving 73 horses that developed laminitis and 146 horses that did not during their hospital stays. These groups were matched in a 2:1 ratio based on their evaluation dates.
- The potential risk factors they considered included the age, breed, and sex of each horse, as well as the highest and lowest values recorded for their fibrinogen concentration, white blood cell (WBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), and total solids concentration during their hospitalization.
- Co-existing health conditions such as pneumonia, endotoxemia (toxins in the blood), diarrhea, medically and surgically treated colic, pituitary adenoma, retained placenta or metritis, limb lameness, acute renal failure, and vascular abnormalities were also taken into account.
- The researchers used univariate screening to filter the potential risk factors to be selected for further analysis. All factors that appeared to be linked with the development of laminitis were included in a multivariate conditional logistic regression model.
Results
- The data showed a slight association between laminitis development and the lowest and highest fibrinogen concentrations, highest PCV, and lowest total solids concentration.
- Diseases including pneumonia, endotoxemia, diarrhea, and abdominal surgery for colic, as well as vascular abnormalities, were significantly associated with laminitis development.
- In the multivariate analysis, endotoxemia emerged as the only factor significantly associated with laminitis.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that endotoxemia is a critical risk factor for the development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization for medical treatment or surgical procedures.
- The authors recommend early recognition of endotoxemia or the potential for its development as a crucial preventive measure. They suggest beginning treatment aimed at managing endotoxemia or its outcomes could help prevent the onset of laminitis in hospitalized horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Parsons CS, Orsini JA, Krafty R, Capewell L, Boston R.
(2007).
Risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization: 73 cases (1997-2004).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 230(6), 885-889.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.230.6.885 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Breeding
- Case-Control Studies
- Endotoxemia / complications
- Endotoxemia / epidemiology
- Endotoxemia / veterinary
- Female
- Foot Diseases / epidemiology
- Foot Diseases / etiology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Inflammation / epidemiology
- Inflammation / etiology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Male
- Multivariate Analysis
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Sex Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Moss A, Leise B, Hackett E. Stress response as a contributing factor in horses with laminitis. J Vet Sci 2023 Mar;24(2):e33.
- Ayoub C, Arroyo LG, MacNicol JL, Renaud D, Weese JS, Gomez DE. Fecal microbiota of horses with colitis and its association with laminitis and survival during hospitalization. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):2213-2223.
- Ribitsch I, Oreff GL, Jenner F. Regenerative Medicine for Equine Musculoskeletal Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 19;11(1).
- Campolo A, Frantz MW, de Laat MA, Hartson SD, Furr MO, Lacombe VA. Differential Proteomic Expression of Equine Cardiac and Lamellar Tissue During Insulin-Induced Laminitis. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:308.
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- Patan-Zugaj B, Egerbacher M, Licka TF. Endotoxin-induced changes in expression of cyclooxygenase isoforms in the lamellar tissue of extracorporeally haemoperfused equine limbs. Anat Histol Embryol 2020 Sep;49(5):597-605.
- Pollard D, Wylie CE, Verheyen KLP, Newton JR. Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach. BMC Vet Res 2019 Feb 12;15(1):59.
- McConachie E, Giguère S, Barton MH. Scoring System for Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Adult Horses with Acute Surgical Gastrointestinal Disease. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1276-83.
- Kuroda T, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Mizobe F, Ueno T, Kuwano A, Hatazoe T, Hobo S. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ulcerative keratitis in a Thoroughbred racehorse. J Equine Sci 2015;26(3):95-8.
- Aharonson-Raz K, Singh B. Pulmonary intravascular macrophages and endotoxin-induced pulmonary pathophysiology in horses. Can J Vet Res 2010 Jan;74(1):45-9.
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