Evaluation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes and fibrin fragment D in carbohydrate-induced acute laminitis

Carbohydrate-induced laminitis has been associated with decreased platelet survival, decreased blood flow to the hoof wall and with the deposition of platelets and microthrombi within venules in the dermal laminae. To evaluate further the systemic prothrombotic events occurring in the prodromal stages of laminitis, plasma samples from control and laminitis-affected ponies and horses were tested for the presence of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes and fibrin fragment D (D-dimer). No statistically significant differences between the control and laminitis-affected animals were observed for either the D-dimer or the TAT complexes. Few of the values for individual animals exceeded the reference ranges for control animals. These data indicate that the prothrombotic events observed in carbohydrate-induced laminitis may not be associated with systemic activation of the coagulation or fibrinolytic systems.