title: Clenbuterol toxicosis in three Quarter Horse racehorses after administration of a compounded product.
abstract: METHODS
  3 Quarter Horse racehorses were examined for suspected clenbuterol overdose 12 to 24 hours after administration by mouth of a compounded clenbuterol product.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All horses developed sinus tachycardia, muscle tremors, hyperhidrosis, and colic. Abnormalities on serum biochemical analysis included hyperglycemia, azotemia, and high creatine kinase activity. The presence of clenbuterol in the serum of all 3 horses and in the product administered was confirmed and quantified by use of liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propranolol (0.01 mg/kg [0.005 mg/lb], IV) was administered to all 3 horses for antagonism of β-adrenergic effects and caused a transient decrease in heart rate in all patients. All horses also received crystalloid fluids IV and other supportive treatment measures. Two horses were euthanatized (2 and 4 days after admission) because of complications. One horse recovered and was discharged 4 days after admission to the hospital. In the 2 nonsurviving horses, skeletal and cardiac muscle necrosis was evident at necropsy, and tissue clenbuterol concentrations were highest in the liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clenbuterol is a β(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist licensed for veterinary use as a bronchodilator. At doses ≥ 10² μg/kg (4.5 μg/lb), in excess of those normally prescribed, β-adrenergic stimulation by clenbuterol may cause sustained tachycardia, muscle tremors, hyperglycemia, and cardiac and skeletal muscle necrosis. Laminitis, acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiomyopathy were fatal complications associated with clenbuterol overdose in 2 horses in the present report. At the dose administered, propranolol was effective for short-term control of sinus tachycardia, but it did not alleviate all clinical signs in patients in the present report. These cases demonstrated the risks associated with the use of nonprescribed compounded medications for which the ingredients may be unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Mustajab H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Rudy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McConnico
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006736:Horses; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol; D002976:Clenbuterol