title: Effects of intravenously administered esomeprazole sodium on gastric juice pH in adult female horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric ulcers are common in horses and treatment of horses that cannot be administered oral medication can be problematic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of esomeprazole sodium administered intravenously on gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer scores in horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult female Quarter Horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Esomeprazole sodium (0.5 mg/kg IV) was administered once daily to 8 horses (treatment group) and saline (5 mL IV) was administered to 4 horses (control group) for 13 consecutive days. Gastroscopy was performed and gastric juice pH and gastric ulcer score were recorded before and 1 hour after the administration of esomeprazole sodium or saline on days 1 and 5, then on day 14, 23 hours after the 13th daily dose of esomeprazole sodium or saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with values before treatment, gastric juice pH was higher in esomeprazole sodium-treated horses after treatment (4.25 ± 2.39 versus 6.43 ± 1.18; P = .002). Also, gastric juice pH was higher (P = .001) in esomeprazole sodium-treated horses compared with saline-treated control horses on day 5 and on day 14 values. Gastric ulcers were seen in 5/12 (43%) horses in the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esomeprazole sodium shows promise for treatment of gastric ulcers in horses with signs of dysphagia, gastric reflux, or other conditions that restrict oral intake of the current Federal Drug Administration-approved omeprazole paste.
authors: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Videla
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Sommardahl
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Elliott
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vasili
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064098:Esomeprazole; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole; D064098:Esomeprazole