[Thrombocytopenia in horses].
Abstract: The retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of true thrombocytopenia and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-induced pseudothrombocytopenia in horses and ponies and to assess the diagnostic and prognostic utility of true thrombocytopenia. Methods: In 3592 patients (2008-2015) hematological data (ADVIA® 2120, Siemens) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were platelet counts < 90 x 109/l (EDTA-blood) and/or < 84 x 109/l (citrate blood). Thrombocytopenia was classified as true, EDTA-induced, and questionable. Patients with true thrombocytopenia were assigned to nine groups according to their history and four groups depending on the main diagnosis (inflammatory disorders, neoplasia, non-inflammatory intestinal disease, others). The frequencies of diagnoses were compared to the overall clinic population. Results: Thrombocytopenia was diagnosed in 123/3592 patients (3.4 %) and classified as true in 60/123 (49 %), EDTA-induced in 6/123 (5 %), and questionable in 57/123 (46 %) of cases. In true thrombocytopenia, the most common reasons for referral were lethargy (23/60, 38 %), fever (19/60, 32 %), and colic (17/60, 28 %). In these patients inflammation, neoplasia, non-inflammatory intestinal disease, and others were diagnosed in 25/60 (42 %), 11/60 (18 %), 10/60 (17 %), and 14/60 (23 %) of cases, respectively. Compared with the overall clinic population, there was an increased frequency of neoplasia (18 % versus 1 %). The mortality rate was significantly higher at 38 % in comparison with the overall population. Remarkably high mortality rates of 32 % and 82 % were observed in patients with inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, respectively. Conclusions: True thrombocytopenia is relatively rare in horses with internal medical conditions and should be verified by measurement in samples with citrate as anticoagulant. Thrombocytopenia is rarely the primary reason for referral and is a negative prognostic factor in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases.
Schattauer GmbH.
Publication Date: 2018-05-04 PubMed ID: 29727871DOI: 10.15653/TPG-170429Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 study investigates the rate and causes of thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by low platelet count, in horses and ponies, and evaluates its diagnostic and prognostic potential. They found that thrombocytopenia, though rare in horses, is mostly associated with inflammatory, neoplastic, and non-inflammatory intestinal diseases and typically leads to a higher mortality rate.
Methodology
- The study investigated hematological data from 3592 horse and pony patients gathered between 2008 and 2015.
- Eligible patients for the study were those with platelet counts less than 90 x 109/l (EDTA-blood) and/or less than 84 x 109/l (citrate blood).
- The thrombocytopenia detected was categorized into true thrombocytopenia, EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia, and questionable cases.
- Patients with true thrombocytopenia were further grouped into nine based on their medical history and four groups depending on the main diagnosis which comprise inflammatory disorders, neoplasia, non-inflammatory intestinal disease, and others.
Results
- Out of the 3592 patients, thrombocytopenia was diagnosed in 123 (3.4%) of the patients.
- Out of these 123 cases, 60 (49%) cases were found to be true thrombocytopenia, 6 (5%) were EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia, with the rest 57 (46%) being classified as questionable.
- The most common reasons for referral in the cases of true thrombocytopenia were lethargy (38%), fever (32%), and colic (28%).
- Inflammatory disorders, neoplasia, non-inflammatory intestinal diseases, and others were diagnosed in 25 (42%), 11 (18%), 10 (17%), and 14 (23%) of these cases respectively.
- There was an increase in the frequency of neoplasia in thrombocytic cases when compared to the overall population of the clinic.
- The mortality rate was significantly higher at 38%, particularly with cases of inflammatory disorders (32%) and neoplastic diseases (82%).
Conclusions
- The study concludes that true thrombocytopenia is not common in horses with internal medical conditions, and it necessitates verification by measuring samples with citrate as anticoagulant.
- Thrombocytopenia is seldom the primary reason for medical referral and is a negative prognostic indicator in cases of neoplastic and inflammatory diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Hübers E, Bauer N, Fey K, Moritz A, Roscher K.
(2018).
[Thrombocytopenia in horses].
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere, 46(2), 73-79.
https://doi.org/10.15653/TPG-170429 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horses
- Platelet Count
- Retrospective Studies
- Thrombocytopenia / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lardinois B, Favresse J, Chatelain B, Lippi G, Mullier F. Pseudothrombocytopenia-A Review on Causes, Occurrence and Clinical Implications.. J Clin Med 2021 Feb 4;10(4).
- Ehrmann C, Engel J, Moritz A, Roscher K. Assessment of platelet biology in equine patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Mar;33(2):300-307.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
