Retrospective evaluation of the association between admission blood glucose and l-lactate concentrations in ponies and horses with gastrointestinal disease (2008-2016): 545 cases.

Abstract

A recent study described increased l-lactate concentrations in ponies with gastrointestinal disease compared to horses, but blood glucose (BG) concentrations were not considered. The study tested the hypothesis that BG and l-lactate concentrations are correlated in horses and ponies with gastrointestinal disease and that BG concentrations, not equid type (pony vs horse), are an independent predictor of L-lactate concentrations. It was further hypothesized that equid type was an independent predictor of BG concentrations. Retrospective study 2008-2016. University teaching hospital. Admission data from 545 animals (384 horses and 161 ponies) with gastrointestinal disease. None. Data collected included signalment, clinicopathological findings on admission, and nature and location of the gastrointestinal lesion (strangulating vs non-strangulating and large vs small intestinal lesion). The association between admission blood l-lactate concentrations, equid type (pony or horse) and BG concentrations was investigated in a multivariable model. Admission l-lactate and BG concentrations were strongly correlated (n = 522; r = 0.63; P<0.001). Ponies had significantly higher l-lactate (2.7 mmol/L (0.5-18.0 mmol/L) vs 1.4 mmol/L (0.3-19 mmol/L); P<0.001) and BG concentrations than horses (8.4 mmol/L (4.2-24.4 mmol/L); 151 mg/dL (76-439 mg/dL) vs 6.9 mmol/L (3.4-26.8 mmol/L); 124 mg/dL (61-482 mg/dL); P<0.001). In the multivariable analysis, l-lactate concentrations were significantly and positively associated with admission BG concentrations in all animals and also with equid type. For each millimole per liter (18 mg/dL) increase in BG, l-lactate concentrations increased by 7.9% (5.9, 9.9); P<0.001. In comparison to ponies, l-lactate concentrations were decreased by 27.7% (37.4, 16.5); P<0.001 in horses. Admission BG concentrations were significantly and positively associated with l-lactate concentrations in all animals. For each millimole per liter increase in l-lactate concentration, BG concentration increased by 6.2% (4.7, 7.6; P<0.001). Admission BG concentrations were not associated with equid type. Admission BG concentrations and equid type are independent predictors of blood l-lactate concentrations in equids with gastrointestinal disease, but their relationship requires further investigation.