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Arterial calcification in race horses

L G Arroyo1, M A Hayes, J Delay

  • 1Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 (Canada). larroyo@uoguelph.ca

Veterinary Pathology
|August 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Vascular calcification, a hardening of artery walls, is common in young racehorses, affecting 82% of those studied. This finding highlights the need to understand the causes and effects of this condition in equine health.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Equine Medicine

Background:

  • Vascular calcification in horses is infrequently documented.
  • Human studies suggest vascular calcification is a regulated biomineralization process.
  • The pathogenesis of equine vascular calcification remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence, distribution, and severity of vascular calcification in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses.
  • To characterize the histopathologic and ultrastructural features of equine vascular calcification.
  • To identify the mineral composition of vascular calcification in horses.

Main Methods:

  • Histopathologic examination of arterial tissues.
  • Ultrastructural imaging (electron microscopy).
  • Energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis for mineral composition.

Main Results:

  • Vascular calcification was found in 82% of the 101 horses examined.
  • The tunica media, particularly of the pulmonary artery, was predominantly affected.
  • Lesions consisted of calcified, fragmented elastic fibers within a dense collagen matrix, identified as hydroxyapatite.

Conclusions:

  • Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in the tunica media of large pulmonary arteries in young racing horses.
  • The study identified hydroxyapatite as the mineral component.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis and clinical significance of equine vascular calcification is warranted.

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