Abstract
Previous reports of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) have noted histopathologic changes in the liver. However, there have been few studies evaluating the hepatic function during the process of DPJ in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypotheses that there is a correlation between DPJ and hepatic dysfunction. Blood samples from 8 horses with DPJ were collected for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gama-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total (TB), direct (DB) and indirect bilirubin (IB), total serum protein and albumin analysis. The blood samples were collected from horses that survived on the moment of admission at the veterinary hospital, at the time of nasogastric reflux (NGR) end, and at the time the animals were allowed to eat. At the same time, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and packed cell volume (PCV) were performed and the volume and duration of NGR were evaluated. Blood samples and parameters of horses that have died were collected at the moment of admission at the hospital. The values of respiratory rate, rectal temperature, volume of NGR, AST, GGT, total protein and albumin were not statistically significant during the trial. By the time of admission at the hospital, the values of heart rate and PCV were significantly greater in horses that have died compared to the survivors. In the survivors there were significant values for heart rate, PCV and for bilirubins. This study did not confirm the hypothesis that DPJ causes hepatic dysfunction in horses when serum biochemical analyses were performed.
Highlights
The duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) is an acute disease, characterized by inflammation and edema of the duodenum and the proximal portion of jejunum, with accumulation of fluid in the small intestine (ARROYO, 2006), profuse nasogastric reflux (NGR), adynamic ileus, abdominal pain (DAVIS et al, 2003a), leucocytosis, pyrexia and high peritoneal fluid total protein concentrations (Underwood et al, 2008)
Blood samples from 8 horses with DPJ were collected for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gama-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total (TB), direct (DB) and indirect bilirubin (IB), total serum protein and albumin analysis
The blood samples were collected from horses that survived on the moment of admission at the veterinary hospital, at the time of nasogastric reflux (NGR) end, and at the time the animals were allowed to eat
Summary
The duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) is an acute disease, characterized by inflammation and edema of the duodenum and the proximal portion of jejunum, with accumulation of fluid in the small intestine (ARROYO, 2006), profuse nasogastric reflux (NGR), adynamic ileus, abdominal pain (DAVIS et al, 2003a), leucocytosis, pyrexia and high peritoneal fluid total protein concentrations (Underwood et al, 2008). The prevalence of DPJ is around 3 to 22% of all the colic cases in the state of Illinois-United States (UNDERWOOD et al, 2008) with survival rates ranging from 25 to 94% (SEAHORN et al, 1992). 12,7% of all colic cases in Veterinary Hospital at the University of São Paulo-Brazil. Complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, laminitis, and hepatic injuries have been reported (CORNICK; SEAHORN, 1990; COHEN et al, 1994; DAVIS et al, 2003a). Processes of intestinal strangulation and ischemia followed by shock, could have further effects on the neighbouring organs of the splanchnic area, such as the liver and the pancreas (GRULKE et al, 2002)
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