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Clinical and pathological studies in horses with hepatic disease
Author(s) -
West Hilary J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb01607.x
Subject(s) - horse , glutamate dehydrogenase , medicine , cirrhosis , alkalosis , pathogenesis , pathological , hepatic encephalopathy , gastroenterology , pathology , disease , lactate dehydrogenase , liver biopsy , urea , endocrinology , liver disease , fatty liver , biopsy , chemistry , glutamate receptor , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , acidosis , paleontology , receptor
Summary In horses with hepatic necrosis, lipidosis, neoplasia and cirrhosis, progression of the disease was studied by serial measurements of total serum bile acid concentrations and of plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and γ glutamyl transferase (γGT) and by liver biopsy. Plasma ammonia concentrations were significantly elevated compared to clinically normal horses, but such changes were not always accompanied by a decline in plasma urea concentration. A fall in plasma glucose concentration carried a guarded prognosis. These were all invaluable aids in early diagnosis and throughout the disease course. The study suggests that other factors, such as hypokalaemia, alkalosis, short chain volatile fatty acids, false and true neurotransmitters, may be important in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma in the horse.