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Vascular perfusion in horses with chronic laminitis
D M Hood1, D A Grosenbaugh, M R Slater
1Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University College Station 77843-4466, USA.
Equine Veterinary Journal
|May 1, 1994
Summary
This study reveals vascular perfusion defects in horses with chronic laminitis, finding worse defects in refractory cases. Evaluating circulatory status can help differentiate treatable from refractory laminitis patients.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Equine Podiatry
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Chronic laminitis significantly impacts equine health, often involving complex vascular changes in the distal digit.
- Understanding these vascular alterations is crucial for prognosis and treatment strategies in affected horses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize macroscopic vascular perfusion defects in horses with chronic laminitis.
- To correlate the severity of these defects with clinical treatability (treatable vs. refractory).
Main Methods:
- Vascular perfusion casts were created from the distal digits of 11 horses with chronic laminitis and 5 control horses.
- Horses were classified as treatable or refractory based on clinical history and status.
- Macroscopic vascular defects were identified and categorized within the submural laminar, coronary, and solar circulations.
Main Results:
- Eleven distinct macroscopic vascular defects were identified in the laminitis group.
- Four types of lesions were found in the submural laminar circulation, 3 in the coronary bed, and 4 in the solar circulation.
- Perfusion defects were more severe in clinically refractory horses compared to treatable cases, suggesting a link between vascular status and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Circulatory status evaluation, using methods like perfusion casting, can significantly aid in distinguishing between treatable and refractory chronic laminitis.
- Ventral displacement of the third phalanx (sinkers) and solar vasculature compression are more common in chronic laminitis than previously recognized.