Use of the impulse oscillometry system for testing pulmonary function during methacholine bronchoprovocation in horses.
Abstract: To compare sensitivity of the impulse oscillometry system (IOS) with that of the conventional reference technique (CRT; ie, esophageal balloon method) for pulmonary function testing in horses. Methods: 10 horses (4 healthy; 6 with recurrent airway obstruction [heaves] in remission). Methods: Healthy horses (group-A horses) and heaves-affected horses (group-B horses) were housed in a controlled environment. At each step of a methacholine bronchoprovocation test, threshold concentration (TC(2SD); results in a 2-fold increase in SD of a value) and sensitivity index (SI) were determined for respiratory tract system resistance (R(rs)) and respiratory tract system reactance (X(rs)) at 5 to 20 Hz by use of IOS and for total pulmonary resistance (RL) and dynamic lung compliance (C(dyn)), by use of CRT. Results: Bronchoconstriction resulted in an increase in R(rs) at 5 Hz (R(5Hz)) and a decrease in X(rs) at all frequencies. Most sensitive parameters were X(rs) at 5 Hz (X(5Hz)), R(5Hz), and R(5Hz):R(10Hz) ratio; RL and the provocation concentration of methacholine resulting in a 35% decrease in dynamic compliance (PC(35)C(dyn)) were significantly less sensitive than these IOS parameters. The TC(2SD) for X(rs) at 5 and 10 Hz was significantly lower in group-B horses, compared with group-A horses. The lowest TC(2SD) was obtained for X(5Hz) in group-B horses and R(5Hz) in group-A horses. Conclusions: In contrast to CRT parameters, IOS parameters were significantly more sensitive for testing pulmonary function. The IOS provides a practical and noninvasive pulmonary function test that may be useful in assessing subclinical changes in horses.
Publication Date: 2003-11-19 PubMed ID: 14620779DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1414Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Asthma
- Bronchoconstriction
- Bronchodilation
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Lung Health
- Noninvasive Procedures
- Pulmonary Health
- Recurrent Airway Obstruction
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research explores the efficacy of the Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) for testing pulmonary function in horses compared to the traditional Esophageal Balloon Method (CRT). The study demonstrates that the IOS was significantly more sensitive and might be a better method for evaluating subclinical changes in horses.
Research Methodology
- The study involved ten horses, with four of them being healthy and six having a recurrent airway obstruction condition, also known as “heaves” – a chronic non-infectious airway condition in horses.
- The horses were separated into two groups – group A consisted of healthy horses, while group B contained the horses with the “heaves” condition but were in remission.
- Both groups of horses were kept in a controlled environment. Throughout a methacholine bronchoprovocation test, two parameters – threshold concentration (TC(2SD) and sensitivity index (SI) – were identified for various aspects of equine respiratory function.
- Respiratory measures were taken at a frequency range of 5 to 20 Hz using the IOS. The total pulmonary resistance (RL) and dynamic lung compliance (C(dyn)) were calculated using the traditional CRT.
Research Findings
- According to the study, bronchoconstriction led to an increase in respiratory tract system resistance (R(rs)) at 5 Hz and a decrease in respiratory tract system reactance (X(rs)) at all frequencies.
- The most sensitive parameters were X(rs) at 5 Hz (X(5Hz)), R(5Hz), and R(5Hz):R(10Hz) ratio. These parameters were found to be more responsive than RL and the provocation concentration of methacholine causing a 35% decrease in dynamic lung compliance (PC(35)C(dyn)).
- The study found that the threshold concentration (TC2SD) for X(rs) at 5 and 10 Hz was notably lower in group-B horses compared to group-A horses.
- The lowest TC(2SD) was observed for X(5Hz) in the ‘heaves’ group and R(5Hz) in the healthy group of horses.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that relative to the traditional CRT parameters, the Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) parameters were significantly more sensitive for lung function testing.
- The IOS potentially offers a practical and non-invasive method for performing pulmonary function tests which could be helpful in identifying subclinical changes in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
van Erck E, Votion DM, Kirschvink N, Art T, Lekeux P.
(2003).
Use of the impulse oscillometry system for testing pulmonary function during methacholine bronchoprovocation in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 64(11), 1414-1420.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1414 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Bat B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / physiopathology
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Animals
- Bronchial Provocation Tests / methods
- Bronchial Provocation Tests / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Kinetics
- Oscillometry
- Reference Values
- Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Frippiat T, Art T, Tosi I. Airway Hyperresponsiveness, but Not Bronchoalveolar Inflammatory Cytokines Profiles, Is Modified at the Subclinical Onset of Severe Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 1;13(15).
- Woodrow JS, Sheats MK, Cooper B, Bayless R. Asthma: The Use of Animal Models and Their Translational Utility. Cells 2023 Apr 5;12(7).
- Kozłowska N, Wierzbicka M, Jasiński T, Domino M. Advances in the Diagnosis of Equine Respiratory Diseases: A Review of Novel Imaging and Functional Techniques. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 4;12(3).
- Stucchi L, Ferrucci F, Bullone M, Dellacà RL, Lavoie JP. Within-Breath Oscillatory Mechanics in Horses Affected by Severe Equine Asthma in Exacerbation and in Remission of the Disease. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 21;12(1).
- Bullone M, Hélie P, Joubert P, Lavoie JP. Development of a Semiquantitative Histological Score for the Diagnosis of Heaves Using Endobronchial Biopsy Specimens in Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Sep;30(5):1739-1746.
- Onmaz AC, Stoklas-Schmidt C, van den Hoven R. Daily variability of forced oscillometry parameters in horses suffering recurrent airway obstruction, a pilot study. Vet Res Commun 2013 Mar;37(1):11-7.
- Lavoie JP, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Chamberland A, Laprise C, Lussier J. Profiling of differentially expressed genes using suppression subtractive hybridization in an equine model of chronic asthma. PLoS One 2012;7(1):e29440.
- Nyerges-Bohák Z, Kovács L, Povázsai Á, Hamar E, Póti P, Ladányi M. Heart rate variability in horses with and without severe equine asthma. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):611-618.
- Mozo Vives B, Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP. Comparative study of the bronchodilator efficacy and adverse effects of salbutamol and hyoscine butylbromide in horses with severe asthma. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1835-1841.
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