Abstract
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Velocity (ESR) is a simple and routine laboratory investigation method in the veterinary clinic for the evaluation of infectious-inflammatory processes and a general indicator of animal welfare. In a systematic review, we evaluated the surroundings of the sensitivity potential of the ESR in the diagnosis of different pathologies in horses. Therefore, a careful search was carried out in Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and SciELO databases for randomized clinical trials until 2021, which culminated in the literary review of five studies. We evidenced five breeds of horses evaluated through ESR methodologies that varied between the standard Westergren method or the modified Westergren method, with the use of different anticoagulants, such as: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), citrate and heparin. The ESR showed diagnostic sensitivity and positive correlation with complementary laboratory parameters, such as: hemoglobin, plasma proteins, leukocyte count and red blood cell count. We also emphasize the need for studies with other races and modulations of stress and pathological conditions, especially covering other nationalities and the peculiarities in which they are inserted.
Highlights
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Velocity (ESR), called Globular Sedimentation Velocity (VSR) or just erythrocyte sedimentation rate, corresponds to a simple laboratory investigation method widely used in human and veterinary clinical screening
As already reported in the literature (Lima et al, 2001), it is evident that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate presents a negative correlation in conditions in which there is an increase in cardiac output, hemoglobin level, protein level, white blood cell count, red blood cell count. These results demonstrate that the ESR is a sensitive method to pathophysiological changes in horses, which justifies its use as a laboratory investigation method still widely used in veterinary clinical practice
It was possible to recognize a considerable number of studies involving the use of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate method as a complementary tool for the assessment of the general health status and diagnosis of pathologies in horses
Summary
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Velocity (ESR), called Globular Sedimentation Velocity (VSR) or just erythrocyte sedimentation rate, corresponds to a simple laboratory investigation method widely used in human and veterinary clinical screening. Described with diagnostic value by Biernacki in 1897 and widespread by Faheus in 1918, the method consists of measuring the speed of separation between erythrocytes and plasma in anticoagulable blood by the addition of compounds with anticoagulant properties. This ESR measurement is performed after a minimum rest of 60 minutes and expressed in millimeters per hour (mm/h) (Soares & Santos, 2009; Grzybowski & Sak, 2011; Buck et al, 2011). Several studies have proposed the application of ESR in a wide variety of species, races, age groups with different methodologies and diagnostic purposes, which has resulted in several modifications. ESR methods are currently classified into three types: the Westergren method, described as the gold standard method according to the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH); and the modified Westergren methods, based on the gold method, but with modifications, such as the Wintrobe method and, alternative methods not based on the Westergren method (Dos Santos et al, 2000; Vennapusa et al, 2011; Kratz et al, 2017)
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