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Use of the Accusport semi-automated analyser to determine blood lactate as an aid in the clinical assessment of horses with colic.
Abstract: The most useful diagnostic methods in the initial evaluation of horses with colic assess the morphological and functional status of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular status. This evaluation is best achieved using a combination of clinical and laboratory data. Blood lactate concentration (BL) is one of these variables. BL rises mainly due to poor tissue perfusion and anaerobic glycolysis associated with shock, providing an indicator of both the severity of disease and its prognosis. A hand-held lactate meter, Accusport, provides a rapid (60 seconds), inexpensive dry-chemical-based determination of BL. This trial evaluated the Accusport's ability to provide BL data as an adjunct to the initial clinical evaluation of horses with colic. The accuracy of the Accusport was tested by evaluation of its interchangeability with the benchmark enzymatic kit evaluation of BL in a trial using data collected firstly from 10 clinically normal control horses and subsequently from 48 horses presented with signs of colic. The BL values were recorded together with the clinical variables of heart rate (HR), capillary refill time (CRT), haematocrit (Hct), and pain character and severity on the initial assessment of the colic horses. Information regarding choice of therapeutic management (medical or surgical) and eventual case outcome (full recovery or died/euthanased) was recorded. The Accusport was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for recording BL values in colic horses with BL < 10 mmol/l, which is within the BL range associated with survival. The interchangeability of an additional, laboratory-based wet chemical assay for BL, the Stat 7 was simultaneously evaluated for the colic and control horses. The Stat 7 was found to be interchangeable with the enzymatic kit for BL determination of colic horses. No linear associations between BL values with HR, CRT, Hct or pain assessment were observed. No relationship with either selection of therapeutic method or eventual case outcome was observed. All horses with BL >8 mmol/l died or were euthanased.
Publication Date: 2001-09-21 PubMed ID: 11563710DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v72i1.602Google 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.
- Comparative Study
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Anaerobic Metabolism
- Blood
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Colic
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Health
- Gastrointestinal Health
- Glycolysis
- Horses
- Lactate
- Pain Management
- Prognosis
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research discusses the application and validity of using the Accusport lactate meter for measuring blood lactate levels in horses with colic. The blood lactate level can be an indicator of disease severity and prognosis. The study found that the Accusport meter’s measurements are interchangeable with more traditional laboratory-based methods for blood lactate levels of less than 10 mmol/l, which falls within the range associated with survival.
Introduction and Methods
- The research aims to assess the use and accuracy of the Accusport lactate meter, a portable and inexpensive device for measuring blood lactate levels in horses suffering from colic. Blood lactate concentration rises due to anaerobic glycolysis and poor tissue perfusion tied with shock, making it a potential indicator of the severity and prognosis of disease in colic horses.
- The research uses data from a trial involving 10 control horses and 48 colic horses. The blood lactate levels were recorded along with other clinical variables such as heart rate, capillary refill time, haematocrit, and pain severity during the initial assessment of the horses.
- The study also recorded the chosen therapeutic management method (medical or surgical) and the eventual outcome of each case (full recovery, euthanasia, or death).
Results
- The Accusport lactate meter was found to be as reliable as traditional enzymatic kits used in laboratories for measuring blood lactate levels in horses with colic, provided the measurement is less than 10 mmol/l. This range is associated with survival in horses with colic.
- Another laboratory-based wet chemical assay for blood lactate, the Stat 7, was also evaluated and found to be interchangeable with enzymatic kits.
- No direct link was observed between blood lactate values and other parameters like heart rate, capillary refill time, haematocrit, and pain assessment. The study also found no relationship between blood lactate levels and the chosen therapeutic method or the eventual case outcome.
- All horses with blood lactate levels higher than 8 mmol/l eventually died or were euthanized.
Significance of the Study
- This research affirms the potential of using the Accusport lactate meter as a useful tool in clinical evaluations for colic in horses.
- The findings can help improve the initial assessment and treatment decision-making process for horses with colic, thereby potentially enhancing their prognosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Schulman ML, Nurton JP, Guthrie AJ.
(2001).
Use of the Accusport semi-automated analyser to determine blood lactate as an aid in the clinical assessment of horses with colic.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 72(1), 12-17.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v72i1.602 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Chemical Analysis / instrumentation
- Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
- Case-Control Studies
- Colic / blood
- Colic / diagnosis
- Colic / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Lactic Acid / analysis
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Prognosis
- Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / veterinary
- Reproducibility of Results
- Severity of Illness Index
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Cywińska A, Michlik-Połczyńska K, Czopowicz M, Strzelec K, Biazik A, Parzeniecka-Jaworska M, Crisman M, Witkowski L. Variations in haematological and biochemical parameters in healthy ponies. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jan 19;17(1):38.
- Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Maśko M, Domino M, Winnicka A. Infrared Thermography Correlates with Lactate Concentration in Blood during Race Training in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 9;10(11).
- Cole GC, Tordiffe ASW, Steenkamp G. Assessment of a portable lactate meter for field use in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2017 Nov 10;84(1):e1-e10.
- 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.
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