Diagnostic efficiency of selected biochemical variables to predict the clinical outcome of exertional rhabdomyolysis in Egyptian draft horses

Abstract

As little is known about redox status in horses with rhabdomyolysis, the present study was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of oxidative stress markers as well as selected biochemical variables to predict the clinical outcome of exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) in Egyptian draft horses. ER was tentatively diagnosed based on the competent case history and physical examination findings and confirmed by elevation of plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels. According to the clinical outcome, the diseased horses were categorized into two groups: survivors (n = 21) and non-survivors (n = 10). The analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed high sensitivity and specificity of CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipid peroxides (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Vitamin C. Their cutoff points were >127,778 U/L, >16,100 U/L, >3,433 U/L, >1,294 U/L, >6.8 nmol/L, >14.0 μmol/L, >9.30 μmol/L, <0.62 mmol/L, <2.21 × 103 IU/g Hb, <60.5 IU/g Hb, and <68.5 mg/dL, respectively. Of the tested variables, CK, LDH, AST, LPO, MDA, and vitamin C appear to have higher sensitivity (100%) and specificity (91%) to predict non-survivorship in examined horses. Our findings suggest that estimation of oxidative stress markers as well as CK, LDH, ALT, and AST not only have diagnostic significance in Egyptian horses with rhabdomyolysis but also can help predict clinical outcomes of such a clinical condition.