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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(5); 1410-1417; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13591

The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases.

Abstract: Fibrinous parapneumonic pleural effusions are associated with decreased efficacy of pleural fluid drainage and increased risk of medical treatment failure in people, but similar associations have not been established in horses. Objective: We hypothesized that fibrin deposition in the pleural cavity of horses with parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of poor outcome. Methods: Seventy four horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia diagnosed by culture and cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both, and pleural effusion diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination. Methods: Retrospective study of cases was from 2002 to 2012. Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, history, sonographic findings, treatments, and outcome. The primary outcome investigated was survival and secondary outcomes were development of complications and surgical intervention. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were applied for categorical variables. A t-test was used to find differences in continuous variables between groups. Results: Seventy four horses met study criteria and 50 (68%) survived. Fibrinous pleural effusion was associated with higher respiratory rate and pleural fluid height at admission, necrotizing pneumonia, increased number of indwelling thoracic drains required for treatment, and decreased survival. Conclusions: Fibrin accumulation in parapneumonic effusions is associated with increased mortality. Direct fibrinolytic treatment might be indicated in affected horses.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-08-11 PubMed ID: 26259510PubMed Central: PMC4858045DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13591Google 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.

This study demonstrates a link between fibrinous pleural effusion and decreased survival rates and complications in horses. The researchers used data and methods such as sonography and logistic regression on a sample of 74 horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia over a decade, from 2002 to 2012.

Study Objective and Hypothesis

The core objective of the research was to understand if fibrin buildup in the pleural cavity of horses suffering from parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of a poor outcome. It was motivated by similar findings in humans where fibrinous pleural effusions decreased the effectiveness of pleural fluid drainage and heightened the risk of medical treatment failure.

Methods

  • A sample size of 74 horses diagnosed with bacterial pleuropneumonia were included in the study. These horses were diagnosed through cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both. The diagnosis was confirmed via a sonographic examination of the pleural effusion.
  • The study was retrospective, covering cases from 2002 to 2012. The data, including information on the horses’ signalment, history, sonographic findings, treatments, and outcome was extracted from medical records.
  • The primary outcome investigated was survival, with secondary outcomes being the development of complications and the requirement for surgical intervention.
  • Statistical methods utilized to analyze the data included Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables.

Results

  • Of the 74 horses that met the study criteria, 50, which is 68%, survived.
  • Fibrinous pleural effusion was associated with higher respiratory rate, higher pleural fluid height at admission, necrotizing pneumonia, and an increased number of indwelling thoracic drains required for treatment.
  • Key finding: Presence of fibrinous pleural effusion corresponded to decreased survival.

Conclusions

The study concluded that fibrin accumulation in parapneumonic effusions is indeed correlated with increased mortality rates in horses. Consequently, the researchers suggested that horses diagnosed with this condition could potentially benefit from direct fibrinolytic treatment to improve their chances of survival.

Cite This Article

APA
Tomlinson JE, Reef VB, Boston RC, Johnson AL. (2015). The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases. J Vet Intern Med, 29(5), 1410-1417. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13591

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 5
Pages: 1410-1417

Researcher Affiliations

Tomlinson, J E
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Reef, V B
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Boston, R C
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Johnson, A L
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / mortality
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / complications
  • Pleural Effusion / mortality
  • Pleural Effusion / pathology
  • Pleural Effusion / veterinary
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / drug therapy
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / mortality
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Analysis

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14679pubmed: 28271546google scholar: lookup
  2. Tomlinson JE, Byrne E, Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Hilton HG, McGorum B, Davis E, Schoster A, Arroyo L, Dunkel B, Carslake H, Boston RC, Johnson AL. The Use of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rTPA) in The Treatment of Fibrinous Pleuropneumonia in Horses: 25 Cases (2007-2012). J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1403-9.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.13594pubmed: 26256909google scholar: lookup
  3. Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
    doi: 10.1111/avj.70003pubmed: 40903020google scholar: lookup
  4. Albert E, Biksi I, Laczkó L, Miló L, Cseri K, Bőkényné Tóth R, Papp D, Halmay D, Bódai E, Bakos Z. Streptococcus hillyeri isolated from septic pleuritis in a horse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Mar;37(2):393-397.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387241306724pubmed: 39773117google scholar: lookup
  5. Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K. Survey of the approach to the diagnosis and management of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses by equine veterinarians. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1484970.
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  6. Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
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