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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2022; 36(3); 1131-1138; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16421

Thromboelastography in obese horses with insulin dysregulation compared to healthy controls.

Abstract: Both obesity and metabolic syndrome are associated with hypercoagulability in people, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and thromboembolic events. Whether hypercoagulability exists in obese, insulin-dysregulated horses is unknown. Objective: To determine if coagulation profiles differ between healthy horses and those with obesity and insulin dysregulation. Methods: Fifteen healthy horses (CON) and 15 obese, insulin-dysregulated horses (OBID). Individuals were university or client owned. Methods: Case-control study. Obesity was defined as a body condition score (BCS) ≥7.5/9 (modified Henneke scale). Insulin dysregulation status was assessed by an oral sugar test (OST). Kaolin-thromboelastography and traditional coagulation variables were compared between groups. The direction and strength of the association between coagulation variables and BCS and OST results were determined using Spearman's correlation. Results: Thromboelastography variables MA (OBID: 69.5 ± 4.5 mm; CON: 64.8 ± 4.3 mm; P = .007) and G-value (OBID: 11749 ± 2536 dyn/m ; CON: 9319 ± 1650 dyn/m ; P = .004) were higher in OBID compared to CON. Positive correlations between MA and BCS (R = 0.45, P = .01) and serum insulin (T : R = 0.45, P = .01; T : R = 0.39, P = .03), and G-value and BCS (R = 0.46, P = .01), and serum insulin (T : R = 0.48, P = .007; T : R = 0.43, P = .02; T : R = 0.38, P = .04) were present. Conclusions: Obese, insulin-dysregulated horses are hypercoagulable compared to healthy controls.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2022-04-16 PubMed ID: 35429197PubMed Central: PMC9151488DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16421Google 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 research investigates whether obesity and insulin dysregulation cause hypercoagulability, or a greater tendency for blood to clot, in horses. The study finds that obese horses with insulin problems have higher blood clotting measurements than healthy horses, suggesting that obesity and insulin dysregulation may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in horses.

Research Objective

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in coagulation profiles between healthy horses and horses that suffer from obesity and insulin dysregulation (malfunction). The presence of hypercoagulability in these obese, insulin-dysregulated horses was of particular interest, given its potential risk to cardiovascular health.

Methods

  • The study employed a case-control design, comparing 15 healthy horses (labeled CON) against 15 obese insulin-dysregulated horses (OBID).
  • Obesity was defined based on a body condition score (BCS) above or equal to 7.5, measured on a modified Henneke scale – a visual assessment tool for determining a horse’s body fat percentage.
  • The horses’ insulin dysregulation status was assessed by an oral sugar test (OST).
  • The researchers carried out Kaolin-thromboelastography, a method for testing blood clotting, alongside other coagulation variable tests.
  • The results from these tests were used in conjunction with the Spearman’s correlation statistical test to identify any associations between the horses’ BCS and OST results and the coagulation variables.

Results

  • The thromboelastography variables – MA (maximum amplitude, a measure indicating clot strength) and the G-value (a measure of blood’s ability to clot) – were higher in the obese, insulin-dysregulated horses compared to the healthy horses.
  • Positive correlations were found between MA and both BCS and serum insulin, and between G-value and BCS and serum insulin. This implies as the severity of obesity and insulin dysregulation increases, so does the coagulation tendency of the blood.

Conclusions

Based on the higher coagulation readings and the presence of positive correlations between obesity/insulin dysregulation and coagulation factors, the researchers concluded that obese, insulin-dysregulated horses may be hypercoagulable compared to healthy horses. This has potential implications for the cardiovascular health of such horses, and also supports the presence of similar concerns in obese, insulin-dysregulated humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Lovett AL, Gilliam LL, Sykes BW, McFarlane D. (2022). Thromboelastography in obese horses with insulin dysregulation compared to healthy controls. J Vet Intern Med, 36(3), 1131-1138. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16421

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 36
Issue: 3
Pages: 1131-1138

Researcher Affiliations

Lovett, Amy L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
Gilliam, Lyndi L
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
Sykes, Benjamin W
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Stillwater, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
McFarlane, Dianne
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Insulin
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / veterinary
  • Thrombelastography / veterinary
  • Thrombophilia / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Oklahoma State University (OSU) Research Advisory Committee (RAC) 2019

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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  2. Vokes JR, Lovett AL, de Kantzow MC, Rogers CW, Wilkins PA, Sykes BW. Comparison of Citrated Whole Blood to Native Whole Blood for Coagulation Testing Using the Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCM Vet™) in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 8;14(19).
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  3. Robles M, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Dubois C, Josse T, Nouveau É, Dahirel M, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Obesity during Pregnancy in the Horse: Effect on Term Placental Structure and Gene Expression, as Well as Colostrum and Milk Fatty Acid Concentration. Vet Sci 2023 Dec 4;10(12).
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