Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease anatomical cardiac studies

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiology
• Equine Health

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory condition in horses.
• Pulmonary hypertension can lead to right heart strain and cor pulmonale.
• Understanding cardiac changes in equine COPD is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cardiac alterations, specifically right ventricular changes, in horses with confirmed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• To determine if subclinical right heart changes are present in equine COPD.
• To explore the relationship between pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale in horses with COPD.

Main Methods:

• An abattoir survey was conducted on horses clinically diagnosed with COPD.
• Ventricular weight measurements were used to calculate the left to right ventricular weight ratio.
• Comparison was made between 17 physiologically and pathologically confirmed COPD cases and control horses.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in right ventricular wall thickness was observed between COPD and control horses.
• A significantly different left to right ventricular weight ratio (P < 0.001) was found in COPD affected horses.
• No clinical or post-mortem evidence of right heart failure or dilatation was noted in affected animals.

Conclusions:

• Equine COPD may not present with overt right heart failure despite altered ventricular weight ratios.
• The observed ventricular weight changes suggest subclinical cardiac remodeling in response to pulmonary hypertension.
• The potentially reversible nature of pulmonary hypertension in equine COPD might limit the severity and incidence of cor pulmonale.