Clinicopathologic evidence of myocardial injury in horses with acute abdominal disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is evidence of myocardial injury in horses with acute abdominal disease.


METHODS
Prospective case series.


METHODS
18 healthy horses and 69 horses with acute abdominal disease.


METHODS
18 healthy horses had been admitted to the hospital for investigation and were assigned to group 1. Horses examined for acute abdominal disease were assigned to 3 groups: strangulating obstruction, nonstrangulating obstruction, or inflammatory disease (groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively). Heart rate, Hct, and blood lactate and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were measured at initial examination. Myocardial function was assessed by echocardiographic measurement of fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection time (LVET). Heart rhythm was evaluated via ECG.


RESULTS
The proportion of horses with high (> 0.03 ng/mL) cTnI concentration was significantly greater among horses with strangulating (9/25 [36%]) or inflammatory (9/19 [47%]) lesions, compared with healthy horses (0/18). The proportion of horses with high cTnI concentration was significantly greater among nonsurvivors (12/24 [50%]) than among survivors (10/45 [22%]). Serum cTnI concentration was positively correlated with Hct, heart rate, and blood lactate concentration and negatively correlated with LVET.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence of myocardial injury was observed in horses with acute abdominal disease, and this injury was associated with severity of illness. Recognition of myocardial injury could improve treatment of acute abdominal disease in horses.
Equine Centre, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia. lc_fennell@yahoo.com.au
Laura C
LC
Nath
Garry A
GA
Anderson
Kenneth W
KW
Hinchcliff
Catherine J
CJ
Savage
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004452:Echocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I