Platelet activation in ponies with airway inflammation

Abstract

Investigating platelet function in RAO and airway inflammation may reveal new aspects of the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung disease in the horse.

Thrombelastography in 26 healthy horses with and without activation by recombinant human tissue factor

“…The TEG analyzer, properly used, may help to diagnose and characterize coagulopathies in horses. Coagulopathies have been identified in equines suffering from myriad diseases, including gastrointestinal disease, 1–10,17 sepsis, 19–21 laminitis, 22,23 and other inflammatory diseases 11,24 . The advantages of TEG over traditional coagulation testing include the ability of a single assay to assess mechanical and kinetic properties of clot formation, coagulation and fibrinolysis, and the interplay of cellular and soluble protein elements of coagulation.…”

“…Clinicopathologic tests that have been evaluated to describe coagulation in horses include coagulation times (prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], thrombin time), platelet number and aggregation, and markers of recent coagulation activity (thrombin‐AT complexes). Other assays evaluate anticoagulant factors (AT, protein C), products associated with fibrinolysis (fibrin degradation products [FDP], D‐dimers), and factors associated with promotion (plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator) or inhibition of fibrinolysis (α‐2 antiplasmin, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1) 1–11 …”

Stimulus‐dependent release of tissue‐regenerating factors by equine platelets

“…Blood samples were collected into 3.8% citrate (ratio 9:1) by venipuncture and processed within 60 min of collection. Platelets were concentrated by centrifugation as previously described (Dunkel et al . 2007).…”

“…2007). The platelet pellet was resuspended in 2.0 ml of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium containing antimicrobials (100 iu/ml penicillin; 100 µg/ml streptomycin; 200 µg/ml neomycin; DMEM+AM), then counted in a haemocytometer and the concentrations were adjusted to 3–5 × 10 11 /l using DMEM+AM (Dunkel et al . 2007).…”

Coagulopathy of the critically ill equine patient

“…Experimentally, a variety of assays have been used to assess platelet activation and function. These tests have included flow cytometry, aggregometry, adhesion assays, and perfusion techniques 100–102 . Template bleeding time has been evaluated in normal horses, but appears to have poor reproducibility 103 .…”