Severe hyponatraemia in foals: clinical findings, primary diagnosis and outcome.
Abstract: To evaluate severe hyponatraemia in foals presenting as medical emergencies to an intensive care unit (ICU) in order to determine the prevalence, clinical findings, primary diagnosis and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case study of records from Thoroughbred foals aged less than 3 months presenting to an ICU as medical emergencies in 2002-12; foals with severe hyponatraemia (serum sodium <122 mmol/L) on admission laboratory data were identified. Data retrieved included signalment, clinical findings, laboratory results, primary diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Results: Severe hyponatraemia was identified in 69/1718 Thoroughbred foals (4%) presenting to the ICU during the study period. Of the 69 foals, 11 (15.9%) presented with neurological signs attributable to hyponatraemic encephalopathy and 7 of these foals had seizures; other neurological signs included obtundation, ataxia and apparent blindness. The three most common primary diagnoses of the 69 foals with severe hyponatraemia were renal disease (18/69, 26.1%), enterocolitis (16/69, 23.2%) and uroperitoneum (15/69, 21.7%). Treatment was directed at the primary disease and correction of the hyponatraemia. A total of 50 of the 69 foals (72.5%) with severe hyponatraemia survived to hospital discharge and 38 of them (76%) survived at least 12 months following discharge. Conclusions: The prevalence of severe hyponatraemia in this study population was 4%. The majority of foals with severe hyponatraemia did not demonstrate direct clinical manifestations as a result of the low serum sodium concentration. The outcome of foals with severe hyponatraemia was mostly favourable.
© 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2016-05-31 PubMed ID: 27237119DOI: 10.1111/avj.12446Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is a retrospective case study examining the impact of severe hyponatraemia (low sodium in the blood) in young Thoroughbred foals including its prevalence, clinical symptoms, primary diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted a retrospective case study using records from foals aged less than 3 months who were admitted to an ICU as medical emergencies between 2002 and 2012.
- They focused on cases where the foals presented with severe hyponatraemia, defined as having a serum sodium level of less than 122 mmol/L on admission.
- Data on the foals’ symptoms, lab results, primary diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were collected and analyzed.
Findings
- Severe hyponatraemia was found in 69 out of 1718 Thoroughbred foals (4%) admitted to the ICU during the study period.
- Of these 69 foals, about 16% showed neurological symptoms due to hyponatraemic encephalopathy, a condition where the brain swells due to low sodium in the blood. Seven of these foals had seizures while others showed symptoms like confusion, lack of coordination, and blindness.
- The three most common primary diagnoses among the 69 foals with severe hyponatraemia were renal disease (26.1%), enterocolitis (23.2%), and uroperitoneum (21.7%).
Treatment and Outcome
- The treatment strategy involved managing the primary disease and correcting the low sodium levels concurrently.
- Overall, 72.5% of the foals with severe hyponatraemia survived and were discharged from the hospital, while 76% of those discharged survived for at least 12 months after discharge.
Conclusion
- The research found that severe hyponatraemia had a 4% prevalence among the studied population of foals.
- Most of the foals with severe hyponatraemia did not display direct symptoms related to the low sodium levels but had other accompanying conditions.
- The prognosis for foals with severe hyponatraemia was generally favourable, with a majority surviving after treatment and hospital discharge.
Cite This Article
APA
Collins NM, Axon JE, Carrick JB, Russell CM, Palmer JE.
(2016).
Severe hyponatraemia in foals: clinical findings, primary diagnosis and outcome.
Aust Vet J, 94(6), 186-191.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12446 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clovelly Intensive Care Unit, Scone Equine Hospital, 106 Liverpool Street, Scone, New South Wales 2337, Australia. Niamh.Collins@sconeequine.com.au.
- Clovelly Intensive Care Unit, Scone Equine Hospital, 106 Liverpool Street, Scone, New South Wales 2337, Australia.
- Equine Specialist Consulting, Scone, NSW, Australia.
- Clovelly Intensive Care Unit, Scone Equine Hospital, 106 Liverpool Street, Scone, New South Wales 2337, Australia.
- Connelly Intensive Care Unit, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, PA, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Brain Diseases / etiology
- Brain Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Hyponatremia / diagnosis
- Hyponatremia / pathology
- Hyponatremia / therapy
- Hyponatremia / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Urgibl-Bauer A, Lorch A, Badura D, Zablotski Y, Constable PD, Trefz FM. Retrospective evaluation of acid-base imbalances, clinicopathologic alterations, and prognostic factors in hospitalized calves with Eimeria-associated diarrhea. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1467583.
- van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC 2nd, Siwinska N. ECEIM consensus statement on equine kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2008-2025.
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