Development of a technique for determination of pulmonary artery pulse wave velocity in horses.
Calcification of the tunica media of the axial pulmonary arteries (PA) has been reported in a large proportion of racehorses. In humans, medial calcification is a significant cause of arterial stiffening and is implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac, cerebral, and renal microvascular diseases. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) provides a measure of arterial stiffness. This study aimed to develop a technique to determine PA-PWV in horses and, secondarily, to investigate a potential association between PA-PWV and arterial fibro-calcification. A dual-pressure sensor catheter (PSC) was placed in the main PA of 10 sedated horses. The pressure waves were used to determine PWV along the PA, using the statistical phase offset method. Histological analysis of the PA was performed to investigate the presence of fibro-calcified lesions. The mean (±SD) PWV was 2.3 ± 0.7 m/s in the proximal PA trunk and 1.1 ± 0.1 m/s further distal (15 cm) in a main PA branch. The mean (±SD) of mean arterial pressures in the proximal PA trunk was 30.1 ± 5.2 mmHg, and 22.0 ± 6.0 mmHg further distal (15 cm) within the main PA branch. The mean (±SD) pulse pressure in the proximal PA trunk was 15.0 ± 4.7 mmHg, and 13.5 ± 3.3 mmHg further distal (15 cm) within the main PA branch. Moderate to severe lesions of the tunica media of the PAs were observed in seven horses, but a correlation with PWV could not be established yet. Pulmonary artery PWV may be determined in standing horses. The technique described may allow further investigation of the effect of calcification of large PAs in the pathogenesis of equine pulmonary circulatory disorders.NEW & NOTEWORTHYPulmonary artery pulse wave velocity was determined safely in standing sedated horses. The technique described may allow further investigation of the effect of calcification of large pulmonary arteries in the pathogenesis of pulmonary circulatory disorders in horses.
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and.
Gonçalo Teixeira de Almeida
GTA
Silva
School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Bruce B
BB
Guest
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and.
Diego E
DE
Gomez
School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Martine
M
McGregor
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and.
Laurent
L
Viel
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and.
M Lynne
ML
O'Sullivan
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and.|School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
John
J
Runciman
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and larroyo@uoguelph.ca.
Luis G
LG
Arroyo
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis / Q000379:methods; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
artery; horse; pulmonary; pulse wave velocity; stiffness