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Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(1); 59-66; doi: 10.1111/evj.13117

Serum amyloid A and plasma fibrinogen concentrations in horses following emergency exploratory celiotomy.

Abstract: Acute-phase proteins may help assess the nature and severity of lesions and outcome in horses undergoing colic surgery. Objective: To compare serum amyloid A and plasma fibrinogen concentrations ([SAA] and [fibrinogen]) in the immediate post-operative period after exploratory celiotomy and determine their value in assessment of post-operative complications and survival to discharge. Methods: Observational study. Methods: This study included horses over 1 year of age undergoing exploratory celiotomy. Surgical procedures, lesions, post-operative care, complications and survival to discharge were recorded. [SAA] and [fibrinogen] were measured prior to surgery and 5 days post-operatively. Statistical analyses included Yate's Chi-square test, linear mixed effects model, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression. Results: Of 300 horses, 52.0% developed post-operative complications and 83.7% survived to discharge, with significantly reduced chance of survival in horses that developed post-operative complications (P<0.01). Median [SAA] at days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and median [fibrinogen] at days 3, 4 and 5 were significantly different between horses that did and did not develop post-operative complications (P<0.05). Median [SAA] at days 1, 4 and 5 were significantly different between horses that did and did not survive to discharge (P<0.05). Logistic regression revealed post-operative complications to be associated with strangulating lesions (OR 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-3.91, P≤0.001) and higher [fibrinogen] at admission (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.00-1.45, P<0.05), and survival to discharge to be associated with lower [SAA] at 5 days post-operatively (OR 0.965, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, P = 0.002). Conclusions: A large variety of lesions and complications prevented detailed analysis of associations between inflammatory markers, lesions and complications. Conclusions: Horses that develop post-operative complications have acute-phase responses of greater magnitudes and durations compared with those that do not develop complications. This is also seen in horses that do not survive to discharge. Measuring [SAA] daily and [fibrinogen] at admission, may help predict the development of post-operative complications.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-12 PubMed ID: 30912857DOI: 10.1111/evj.13117Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study
  • Veterinary

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.

This research examines the use of acute-phase proteins – serum amyloid A and plasma fibrinogen – in assessing potential post-operative complications and survival rates in horses after undergoing emergency exploratory celiotomy, a surgical procedure often performed to investigate the cause of severe abdominal pain.

Research Methodology

  • The study is observational in nature and involves horses over 1 year of age who underwent exploratory celiotomy.
  • Information related to the surgical procedures, identified lesions, subsequent care, related complications and whether the horses survived to discharge were duly recorded.
  • The concentration levels of serum amyloid A ([SAA]) and plasma fibrinogen were measured before the surgery and each day for five days post-operatively.
  • Different statistical tests, including Yate’s Chi-square test, linear mixed effects model, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression were employed for data analysis and interpretation.

Key Findings

  • Out of 300 horses included in the study, over half (52%) developed post-operative complications and close to 84% of them survived to discharge.
  • There was a significant decrease in the probability of survival in horses that developed post-operative complications.
  • There was a significant difference in median levels of [SAA] at days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and median [fibrinogen] levels at days 3, 4, and 5 between horses that either did or did not develop complications post operation.
  • Median [SAA] levels at days 1, 4, and 5 varied significantly between those horses that either survived or did not survive to discharge.
  • Logistic regression showed a strong association of post-operative complications with strangulating lesions and elevated plasma fibrinogen concentration at admission.
  • Lower [SAA] concentration level at day 5 post-operatively was found to be linked with survival to the discharge stage.

Conclusions

  • The wide range of observed lesions and complications made a detailed analysis of potential correlations between inflammatory markers, lesions, and complications problematic.
  • The study concludes that horses that develop post-operative complications exhibit greater magnitudes and durations of acute-phase responses than those that do not develop complications. This is also observed in horses that do not survive to discharge.
  • Regular monitoring of [SAA] and [fibrinogen] levels, from admission to five days post-operatively can aid in predicting the likelihood of post-operative complications.

Cite This Article

APA
De Cozar M, Sherlock C, Knowles E, Mair T. (2019). Serum amyloid A and plasma fibrinogen concentrations in horses following emergency exploratory celiotomy. Equine Vet J, 52(1), 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13117

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 1
Pages: 59-66

Researcher Affiliations

De Cozar, M
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Sherlock, C
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Knowles, E
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Mair, T
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Maidstone, Kent, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / blood
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
  • Postoperative Period
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism

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This article includes 28 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Ludwig EK, Hobbs KJ, McKinney-Aguirre CA, Gonzalez LM. Biomarkers of Intestinal Injury in Colic. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 7;13(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13020227pubmed: 36670767google scholar: lookup
  2. Hassanpour A, Moghaddam S. Evaluation of serum concentration of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) in the affected Arabian foals with rhodococcosis. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):144-149.
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  3. Wright S. Highlights of recent clinically relevant papers. Equine Vet Educ 2019 Sep;31(9):450-451.
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    doi: 10.1111/evj.14098pubmed: 38634210google scholar: lookup
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