The effect of three different doses of sodium pentosan polysulphate on haematological and haemostatic variables in adult horses.

The research is an investigation into the effects of different dosage levels of Sodium Pentosan Polysulphate (PPS) on the blood and clotting agents in adult horses, shedding light on optimal dosage and time frames for administration to ensure no negative impact, especially prior to high stress activities or possibility of injury.

Methodology

• This study involved the use of eight adult standardbred horses. These horses were administered varying doses of PPS (0, 3, 6, and 10 mg/kg) via injection over a four-week period so that by the end of the study, each horse had received each dosage.
• Blood samples were taken from the horses at specific intervals following the PPS doses. These times were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 168 hours.
• There were several variables measured from the collected blood samples, which spanned over the red and white blood cell counts, clotting variables and various form of the individual cell types like lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophil and monocyte counts.
• The data was analyzed using ANOVA with the significance set at P < 0.05.

Results

• The PPS treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase in Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT). There was a significant increase in PTT for all groups receiving PPS in comparison to those receiving no treatment (0mg/kg), in which no change over time was observed.
• The PTT values returned to the baseline levels 48 hours after treatment.
• Higher neutrophil counts were observed 3 hours after treatment in comparison to the counts at time 0.
• Horses treated with 3 mg/kg of PPS showed higher lymphocyte counts 4 hours after injection. Those receiving 6 and 10 mg/kg showed higher counts at 3, 4, 6, and 8 hours after treatment.
• At 8 hours after injection, horses receiving 6 and 10 mg/kg of PPS had more lymphocytes than horses not receiving any PPS.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that PPS administration in horses leads to a dose-dependent prolongation of PTT.
• At the dosage levels currently recommended for treating joint issues in horses, this increase was observed to be small and elevated from the baseline for up to 24 hours.
• Based on the study’s results, doses of PPS up to 3 mg/kg should not be administered to horses within 24 hours of high-stress activities or situations where physical injury is probable.