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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Thrombelastography in horses with acute gastrointestinal dis...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2011; 25(2); 307-314; doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0673.x

Thrombelastography in horses with acute gastrointestinal disease.

Abstract: Coagulopathies in horses with gastrointestinal disease are frequently identified and associated with morbidity and fatality. Objective: Determine if thrombelastography (TEG) identifies abnormalities associated with lesion type, presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), morbidity, and fatality more consistently than traditional coagulation testing. Methods: One-hundred and one horses examined for gastrointestinal disease and 20 healthy horses. Methods: TEG, tissue factor (TF)-TEG, and traditional coagulation panels parameters and percentages of horses with coagulopathies were compared for lesion type, presence of SIRS, complications, and survival. Results: Changes in individual parameters and increased incidence of coagulopathies were associated with fatality (R, P= .007; k-value [K], P= .004; clot lysis [CL]30, P= .037; CL60, P= .050; angle [Ang], P= .0003; maximum amplitude [MA], P= .006; lysis [Ly]30, P= .042; Ly60, P= .027; CI, P= .0004; ≥ 2 TEG coagulopathies, P= .013; ≥ 3 TEG coagulopathies, P= .038; TF-R, P= .037; TF-K, P= .004; TF-CL30, P < .0001; TF-CL60, P < .0001; TF-Ang, P= .005; TF-Ly30, P= .0002; TF-Ly60, P < .0001; TF-CI, P= .043; ≥ 1 TF-TEG coagulopathies, P= .003; ≥ 2 TF-TEG coagulopathies, P= .0004; prothrombin tme [PT], P < .0001; activated partial throboplastin time [aPTT], P= .021), inflammatory lesions (MA, P= .013; TF-CL30, P= .033; TF-CL60, P= .010; TF-Ly60, P= .011; ≥ 1 TF-TEG coagulopathy, P= .036; ≥ 2 TF-TEG coagulopathy, P= .0007; PT, P= .0005; fibrinogen, P= .019), SIRS (MA, P= .004; TF-CL30, P= .019; TF-CL60, P= .013; TF-Ly30, P= .020; TF-Ly60, P= .010; PT, P < .0001; aPTT, P= .032; disseminated intravascular coagulation, P= .005), and complications (ileus: aPTT, P= .020; diarrhea: TF-CL30, P= .040; TF-Ly30, P= .041; thrombophlebitis: ≥ 1 TF-TEG coagulopathy, P= .018; laminitis: MA, P= .004; CL60, P= .045; CI, P= .036; TF-MA, P= .019; TF-TEG CI, P= .019). Abnormalities in TEG and TF-TEG parameters were indicative of hypocoagulation and hypofibrinolysis. Conclusions: TEG identifies changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis associated with lesion type, SIRS, morbidity, and fatality in horses with gastrointestinal disease.
Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2011-02-11 PubMed ID: 21314719DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0673.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article investigates how thrombelastography (TEG), a blood clotting test, can determine abnormalities related to lesion type, inflammation, morbidity, and mortality in horses afflicted with gastrointestinal diseases. The study found that TEG was successful in detecting changes in blood clotting and fibrinolysis, indicating its potential use as a diagnostic and prognosis tool for equine gastrointestinal disorders.

Methods of the Study

  • The study observed 101 horses afflicted with gastrointestinal diseases and compared them to a control group of 20 healthy horses.
  • The research team used thrombelastography (TEG), tissue factor (TF)-TEG, and traditional coagulation panels to assess the horses’ blood clotting capabilities.
  • The tests were performed to identify coagulopathies or clotting disorders related to differing lesion types, the presence of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), complications arising from the disease, and the likelihood of survival.

Results of the Study

  • The results indicated a significant correlation between changes in individual parameters and the increased incidence of coagulopathies with fatality. This was evident through statistical significance (P value) of all tested parameters, suggesting that TEG could consistently identify abnormalities associated with equine mortality.
  • Additional interesting findings were that inflammatory lesions, SIRS, and complications such as ileus, diarrhea, thrombophlebitis, and laminitis affected TEG and TF-TEG parameters significantly. These suggest that such conditions impact the clotting capabilities of horses suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Finally, the research found abnormalities in TEG and TF-TEG parameters indicative of hypocoagulation (slow clotting) and hypofibrinolysis (reduced breakdown of blood clots). These further correlate the severity of the disease with the ability to coagulate blood.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The study concludes that thrombelastography (TEG) is effective in identifying changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis associated with lesion types, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), morbidity, and mortality in horses suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
  • These findings imply that TEG could have potential applications as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the management and treatment of equine gastrointestinal disorders.

Cite This Article

APA
Epstein KL, Brainard BM, Gomez-Ibanez SE, Lopes MA, Barton MH, Moore JN. (2011). Thrombelastography in horses with acute gastrointestinal disease. J Vet Intern Med, 25(2), 307-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0673.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 25
Issue: 2
Pages: 307-314

Researcher Affiliations

Epstein, K L
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. kirae@uga.edu
Brainard, B M
    Gomez-Ibanez, S E
      Lopes, M A F
        Barton, M H
          Moore, J N

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Blood Coagulation / physiology
            • Blood Coagulation Factors / metabolism
            • Blood Coagulation Tests / methods
            • Blood Coagulation Tests / veterinary
            • Case-Control Studies
            • Female
            • Gastrointestinal Diseases / blood
            • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnosis
            • Gastrointestinal Diseases / mortality
            • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
            • Hemostasis
            • Horse Diseases / blood
            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
            • Horse Diseases / mortality
            • Horses
            • Male
            • Prospective Studies
            • Survival Analysis
            • Thrombelastography / veterinary
            • Thromboplastin / chemistry

            Citations

            This article has been cited 20 times.
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