Intravascular hemolysis associated with severe cutaneous burn injuries in five horses.
Five horses were evaluated because of severe cutaneous burn injuries following a barn fire. Gross hemolysis and morphologic changes in RBCs consistent with oxidative damage were detected in all of the horses. Of these horses, 4 became azotemic. The overall goals of treatment included wound care, correction of dehydration and provision of diuresis, control of inflammation, pain management, and prophylaxis against sepsis. After treatment, 2 horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Red blood cell damage and hemolysis following cutaneous burn injury have been investigated in other species and appear to be a result of the release of oxygen radicals from complement-activated neutrophils. Early intervention with aggressive fluid therapy is recommended in the treatment of human burn patients and is likely to be of benefit in horses with burn injuries; a beneficial role of free radical scavengers and xanthine oxidase inhibitors has also been suggested.
Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Tracy E
TE
Norman
M Keith
MK
Chaffin
Mark C
MC
Johnson
Elizabeth A
EA
Spangler
Bradley R
BR
Weeks
Robin
R
Knight
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014511:Uremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents