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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Am Vet Med Assoc / Use of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate conce...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2012; 240(10); 1208-1217; doi: 10.2460/javma.240.10.1208

Use of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration to identify strangulating intestinal lesions in referred horses with signs of colic.

Abstract: To determine the value of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) for detecting strangulating intestinal lesions (SLs) in referred horses with signs of colic. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 94 horses with signs of colic. Methods: Medical records of horses evaluated between September 2006 and February 2010 because of signs of colic were reviewed. All included horses had ≥ 2 peritoneal fluid samples collected, including one at admission and another within 1 to 6 hours after admission. Of the 94 horses, 26 were assigned to the SL group on the basis of findings at surgery or necropsy and 68 were assigned to the nonstrangulating intestinal lesion group because their signs of colic resolved with medical management. Peritoneal fluid lactate concentration was measured by use of a handheld lactate monitor. Data were analyzed by use of univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: PFL at admission > 4 mmol/L, an increase in PFL over time, and especially an increase in PFL over time in horses with a PFL < 4 mmol/L at admission (OR, 62; sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 77%) were significant predictors of horses with an SL. Conclusions: Serially determined PFL was a strong predictor for differentiating horses with SLs from horses with nonstrangulating intestinal lesions. Given the high OR, sensitivity, and specificity of these tests, serially determined PFL may have potential as a screening test for identifying horses with SLs. Further evaluation of the clinical value of PFL for predicting SLs in a prospective, multicenter study is warranted.
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Publication Date: 2012-05-09 PubMed ID: 22559111DOI: 10.2460/javma.240.10.1208Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 research paper explores the value of repeatedly measuring peritoneal fluid lactate concentrations in detecting strangulating intestinal lesions in horses showing symptoms of colic.

Objective & Methodology

  • The study was conducted to establish the importance of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) for detecting strangulating intestinal lesions (SLs), a serious conditon in horses displaying colic symptoms. A total of 94 horses with colic symptoms were included in the study, which took place from September 2006 to February 2010.
  • All the included horses had at least two peritoneal fluid samples collected – one at the time of admission and another within 1 to 6 hours after admission.
  • From the total horses, 26 were grouped in the Strangulating Lesions (SL) category as per their surgery or necropsy results, while 68 were grouped under the non-strangulating intestinal lesion category since their colic symptoms were resolved with medical management.
  • The PFL in these horses was calculated using a handheld lactate monitor and data was analysed via univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

  • According to the research, a peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) at admission going beyond 4 mmol/L, an increase in PFL with time and specifically an increase in PFL over time in horses having a PFL less than 4 mmol/L at admission were crucial pointers of horses having strangulating intestinal lesions (SL).
  • This research revealed that regular determination of PFL was an effective predictor for differentiating horses with SLs from horses with non-strangulating intestinal lesions. As these tests had high odds ratio (OR), sensitivity, and specificity, they could potentially be used as screening tests to identify horses with SLs.

Conclusions & Recommendations

  • The study concludes that consistently determining peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) might prove critical in detecting strangulating intestinal lesions in horses with colic symptoms.
  • Considering the high predictability and specificity of these tests, the authors suggest their potential use as screening tests for identifying horses at the risk of SLs.
  • The authors also recommend conducting further evaluations for the clinical value of PFL as a predictive tool for SLs in a larger, multicenter research study.

Cite This Article

APA
Peloso JG, Cohen ND. (2012). Use of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration to identify strangulating intestinal lesions in referred horses with signs of colic. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 240(10), 1208-1217. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.240.10.1208

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 1943-569X
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 240
Issue: 10
Pages: 1208-1217

Researcher Affiliations

Peloso, John G
  • Equine Medical Center of Ocala, 7107 W Hwy 326, Ocala, FL 34482, USA. jpeloso@emcocala.com
Cohen, Noah D

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Ascitic Fluid / chemistry
    • Biomarkers / analysis
    • Cohort Studies
    • Colic / metabolism
    • Colic / veterinary
    • Constriction, Pathologic / veterinary
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / metabolism
    • Horses
    • Intestinal Obstruction / metabolism
    • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
    • Lactic Acid / analysis
    • Male
    • Predictive Value of Tests
    • Retrospective Studies

    Citations

    This article has been cited 13 times.
    1. Bishop RC, Arrington JV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM. Alterations in the Peritoneal Fluid Proteome of Horses with Colic Attributed to Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Intestinal Disease. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 30;15(11).
      doi: 10.3390/ani15111604pubmed: 40509070google scholar: lookup
    2. Parra-Moyano LA, Cedeño A, Darby S, Johnson JP, Gomez DE. Blood and Peritoneal Lactate, Ratio and Difference, and Peritoneal Lactate to Total Solids Ratio for Detection of Intestinal Strangulating Obstructions in Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70121.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.70121pubmed: 40448701google scholar: lookup
    3. Martin E, Sarkan K, Viall A, Hostetter S, Epstein K. Clinicopathologic Parameters of Peritoneal Fluid as Predictors of Gastrointestinal Lesions, Complications, and Outcomes in Equine Colic Patients: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 24;15(1).
      doi: 10.3390/ani15010012pubmed: 39794955google scholar: lookup
    4. Bayless RL, Cooper BL, Sheats MK. Extracted Plasma Cell-Free DNA Concentrations Are Elevated in Colic Patients with Systemic Inflammation. Vet Sci 2024 Sep 12;11(9).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci11090427pubmed: 39330806google scholar: lookup
    5. Rapezzano G, Marcatili M, Stephenson R, Pereira R, Hallowell G, Duz M. Evaluation of peritoneal l-lactate concentration in horses in the early post-partum period. Vet Med Sci 2024 May;10(3):e1352.
      doi: 10.1002/vms3.1352pubmed: 38634206google scholar: lookup
    6. Ludwig EK, Hobbs KJ, McKinney-Aguirre CA, Gonzalez LM. Biomarkers of Intestinal Injury in Colic. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 7;13(2).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13020227pubmed: 36670767google scholar: lookup
    7. Martín-Cuervo M, Gracia-Calvo LA, Macías-García B, Ezquerra LJ, Barrera R. Evaluation of Eosinopenia as a SIRS Biomarker in Critically Ill Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 15;12(24).
      doi: 10.3390/ani12243547pubmed: 36552467google scholar: lookup
    8. Erwin SJ, Clark ME, Dechant JE, Aitken MR, Hassel DM, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Multi-Institutional Retrospective Case-Control Study Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of Foals with Small Intestinal Strangulating Obstruction: 2000-2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
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    9. Kos VK, Kramaric P, Brloznik M. Packed cell volume and heart rate to predict medical and surgical cases and their short-term survival in horses with gastrointestinal-induced colic. Can Vet J 2022 Apr;63(4):365-372.
      pubmed: 35368402
    10. Barton AK, Richter IG, Ahrens T, Merle R, Alalwani A, Lilge S, Purschke K, Barnewitz D, Gehlen H. MMP-9 Concentration in Peritoneal Fluid Is a Valuable Biomarker Associated with Endotoxemia in Equine Colic. Mediators Inflamm 2021;2021:9501478.
      doi: 10.1155/2021/9501478pubmed: 33488296google scholar: lookup
    11. DeNotta SL, Divers TJ. Clinical Pathology in the Adult Sick Horse: The Gastrointestinal System and Liver. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Apr;36(1):105-120.
      doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.11.004pubmed: 31982231google scholar: lookup
    12. Orr KE, Baker WT, Lynch TM, Hughes FE, Clark CK, Slone DE Jr, Fogle CA, Gonzalez LM. Prognostic value of colonic and peripheral venous lactate measurements in horses with large colon volvulus. Vet Surg 2020 Apr;49(3):472-479.
      doi: 10.1111/vsu.13361pubmed: 31916608google scholar: lookup
    13. Pihl TH, Scheepers E, Sanz M, Goddard A, Page P, Toft N, Andersen PH, Jacobsen S. Influence of disease process and duration on acute phase proteins in serum and peritoneal fluid of horses with colic. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):651-8.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.12542pubmed: 25644457google scholar: lookup
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