Serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity in horses with right or left dorsal displacements of the large colon.

This research article discusses a study on the variations in serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity in horses affected by displacement of the large colon and how this might be related to greater risk of bile duct obstruction. The study compared two different types of displacement – right dorsal and left dorsal, and found significant differences in the serum GGT levels.

Hypothesis and Participants

• The overall objective of this study was to evaluate whether horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDDLC) show higher levels of serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity compared to horses with left dorsal displacement of the large colon (LDDLC).
• The researchers reviewed medical records of 37 horses with RDDLC and 48 horses with LDDLC, all of which had been confirmed with displacement of the colon via surgery or postmortem examination, and had a recorded serum GGT measurement taken within a day before the procedure.

Results

• Among the total subjects, 49% of the horses with RDDLC and only 2% of the horses with LDDLC showcased GGT levels above the reference range, indicating a connection between colon displacement direction and GGT activity.
• Horses with RDDLC demonstrated higher serum GGT than those with LDDLC.

Outcomes and Implications

• Almost all of the horses (97%) with RDDLC studied were discharged with a positive prognosis, with none exhibiting a subsequent return of liver disease, suggesting no direct correlation between the elevated GGT activity and more severe health issues.
• Further examinations of the horses revealed that the positioning of the colon as it occurs in RDDLC can lead to the compression of the bile duct, potentially explaining the increased GGT activity due to extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. This insight could be invaluable in diagnosing and treating such obstructions in horses in the future.