title: Endoscopic Evaluation of Angiogenesis in the Large Airways of Horses with Heaves Using Narrow Band Imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heaves is a severe debilitating condition of horses, characterized by lower airway inflammation and permanent structural changes of the bronchial wall. Chronic inflammation promotes the formation of new vessels, a phenomenon known as angiogenesis. Narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy is a noninvasive technique that enhances the visualization of submucosal vessels, and commonly is employed for the study of angiogenesis in human patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Using NBI, we aimed to determine whether or not the central airways of horses with heaves undergo angiogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses with heaves during exacerbation of the disease (n = 5) and healthy controls (n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  A library of NBI images was established from previously recorded videoendoscopies. Images were acquired by an operator blinded to horse ID. Images were obtained from 3 sites: 130 from the trachea (14 ± 9.3 [mean ± SD] images per horse with heaves and 10 ± 5.4 from controls; P = .45), 58 from the carina (5.4 ± 3.2 from horses with heaves and 5.2 ± 2.8 fromn controls; P > .99) and 167 from the intermediate bronchi (17.8 ± 6.7 from horses with heaves and 13 ± 5.6 from controls; P = .17). Using dedicated stereology software (NewCAST, Visiopharm; Denmark), the volume density of superficial and deep vessels was calculated blindly by point counting at each site for all horses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the trachea, the volume density of superficial vessels was increased in horses with heaves compared to controls (P = .02). No difference was found between groups for the volume density of both superficial and deep vessels at the carina or intermediate bronchi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NBI imaging of the airways was easily performed in standing sedated horses.
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Herteman
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullone
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavoie
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Blood vessels; Equine Asthma; Recurrent airway obstruction