Usefulness of a Point-of-Care Analyzer to Measure Cardiac Troponin I and D-Dimer Concentrations in Critically Ill Horses With Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Point-of-care (POC) systems for the joint measurement of Troponin and D-dimers have not been studied in horses. The aim of this study was to perform the validation of a POC system (AQT90 FLEX) for the measurement of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and D-dimers in the serum of horses with gastrointestinal diseases. The main objective was to evaluate whether or not this system can distinguish healthy animals from diseased animals. A sample of 33 horses was included in the study: control group (n = 10) and horses with gastrointestinal disorders (n = 21), which were classified according to their outcome in survivors (subgroup A = 9) and nonsurvivors (subgroup B = 12). Considering the diagnosis of the process, ill horses were classified into three groups: inflammatory (I = 7), obstructive (O = 9), and strangulating diseases (S = 5). The clinical usefulness of AQT90 FLEX was validated by the study of linearity, coefficient of variation, and detection limits. Later, concentrations of D-dimers and cTnI were measured. A significant increase in both parameters was detected in ill animals (cTnI: control: 0.014 ± 0.01 µg/mL, survivors: 0.27 ± 0.37 µg/mL, nonsurvivors: 0.60 ± 1.21 µg/mL; D-dimers: control: 104.90 ± 30.82 ng/mL, survivors: 1,217.22 ± 1,213.28 ng/mL, nonsurvivors: 1,613.67 ± 1,426.75 ng/mL), although there were no statistically significant differences in concentrations according to diagnosis and outcome. In conclusion, AQT90 FLEX POC analyzer can be used in horses with gastrointestinal diseases to measure cTnI and D-dimer concentrations. It is a quick, practical, and minimally invasive tool that helps in determining the severity of illness.

Usefulness of Doppler ultrasonography to assess digital vascular dynamics in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or laminitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of Doppler ultrasonography as a method to assess changes in digital vascular dynamics in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or laminitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Animals-42 adult Andalusian horses. PROCEDURES: Group 1 included 9 healthy horses, group 2 included 19 horses with SIRS without (n = 9) or with (10) a palpable increase in digital pulse intensity, and group 3 included 14 horses with laminitis without (8) or with (6) radiographic evidence of rotation or distal displacement (sinking) of the third phalanx. Qualitative spectrum characteristics and quantitative Doppler measurements of the lateral palmar digital artery were obtained for horses in each group. RESULTS: 4 spectra, characterized by a positive systolic peak followed by several positive diastolic peaks, were observed in group 1 horses, group 2 horses, and group 3 horses that lacked radiographic changes. In the group 3 horses that had radiographic changes, laminar blood flow was detected. Diameter of the lateral palmar digital artery was significantly larger in the group 3 horses than in the group 2 horses; blood flow was significantly higher in the group 2 horses that had an increase in digital pulse intensity than in the group 2 horses without an increase in digital pulse intensity; velocity-time integral and acceleration time were significantly lower in group 3 horses, compared with group 2 horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that Doppler ultrasonography may be a useful complementary tool to detect digital blood flow changes of horses with SIRS, especially if they have a palpable increase in digital pulse intensity, or laminitis.