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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Serum iron and plasma fibrinogen concentrations as indicator...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2007; 21(3); 489-494; doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[489:siapfc]2.0.co;2

Serum iron and plasma fibrinogen concentrations as indicators of systemic inflammatory diseases in horses.

Abstract: Detection of systemic inflammation, which is important for proper diagnosis and prompt treatment, can be challenging. Objective: Measurement of plasma iron concentration is a sensitive method for detecting systemic inflammation in horses compared with measurements of plasma fibrinogen concentration, a traditional marker for inflammation in the horse. Methods: Ninety-seven horses hospitalized with diseases causing systemic inflammation, 22 horses with localized inflammation, and 12 clinically normal horses were included in this study. Methods: A retrospective study was made on hospitalized horses that had both plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations measured on hospital admission. Results: Plasma iron concentration was lower in horses with systemic inflammation (64 +/- 45 microg/dL) than the reference interval minimum (105 microg/dL) and were significantly lower (P = .001) than the value in a group of horses with local inflammation (123 +/- 45 microg/dL) and in healthy transported horses (143 +/- 29 microg/dL). Low plasma iron and high fibrinogen concentrations were both sensitive indicators of systemic inflammation in horses with sensitivity of 90 and 82%, respectively. There was a similar correlation between either continued decreases in iron concentration (Rsp of 0.239) or increases in fibrinogen concentration (Rsp of 0.280) during hospitalization and a worse prognosis. Conclusions: Measurement of plasma iron concentration better reflected acute inflammation than did fibrinogen concentration.
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Publication Date: 2007-06-08 PubMed ID: 17552456DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[489:siapfc]2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the effectiveness of measuring serum iron and plasma fibrinogen concentrations as indicators for systemic inflammation in horses. The results suggest that lower plasma iron levels and higher fibrinogen concentrations are both sensitive indicators of systemic inflammation, with decreased iron concentration better reflecting acute inflammation than fibrinogen concentration.

Objectives and Methods

  • The study aimed to establish the effectiveness of plasma iron concentration measurement against traditional plasma fibrinogen concentration measurement for detecting systemic inflammation in horses.
  • The research involved 97 horses with diseases causing systemic inflammation, 22 horses with localized inflammation, and 12 clinically normal horses.
  • The types of inflammation ranged from acute (short-term and sudden) to chronic (long-term and persistent) inflammation.
  • The study was retrospective, analyzing past data from hospitalized horses where both plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations were measured at the admission.

Results

  • The results illustrated that plasma iron concentration was lower in horses with systemic inflammation compared to those with localized inflammation and healthy horses. This finding was statistically significant.
  • Ironically, low plasma iron and high fibrinogen concentrations were found to be sensitive indicators of systemic inflammation in horses, demonstrating sensitivities of 90% and 82%, respectively.
  • Decreasing iron concentration and increasing fibrinogen concentration during hospitalization were both correlated with a worse prognosis.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that measuring plasma iron concentrations presented a more accurate reflection of acute inflammation in horses compared to fibrinogen concentration.
  • However, both low plasma iron and high fibrinogen concentrations were generally sensitive indicators for detecting systemic inflammation in horses.
  • With each continued decrease in iron concentration or increase in fibrinogen concentration, the prognosis for the horse worsened.

Cite This Article

APA
Borges AS, Divers TJ, Stokol T, Mohammed OH. (2007). Serum iron and plasma fibrinogen concentrations as indicators of systemic inflammatory diseases in horses. J Vet Intern Med, 21(3), 489-494. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[489:siapfc]2.0.co;2

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 0891-6640
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Pages: 489-494

Researcher Affiliations

Borges, Alexandre S
  • From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Sao Paulo State University, Unesp, FMVZ Botucatu SP, Brazil. asborges@fmvz.unesp.br
Divers, Thomas J
    Stokol, Tracy
      Mohammed, O Hussni

        MeSH Terms

        • Acute-Phase Proteins / analysis
        • Animals
        • Biomarkers / blood
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Female
        • Fibrinogen / metabolism
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horses
        • Inflammation / blood
        • Inflammation / diagnosis
        • Inflammation / veterinary
        • Iron / blood
        • Male
        • Predictive Value of Tests
        • Prognosis
        • Retrospective Studies
        • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / blood
        • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / diagnosis
        • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / veterinary

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