Relationships between equine airway reactivity measured by flowmetric plethysmography and specific indicators of airway inflammation in horses with suspected inflammatory airway disease

Abstract

Airway reactivity and BAL cytology did not show concordance in this population of horses presenting for unexplained poor performance and/or chronic cough. Failure to include tests of airway reactivity may lead to underdiagnosis of IAD in young Standardbred racehorses that present with clinical signs suggestive of IAD.

Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses is Associated with Airway Hyperreactivity

“…Current definitions of RAO and IAD are based on cytologic variable, and the relationship between hypersensitivity and cytology is still unclear . Some studies have reported AH predominantly in mast cell‐type or eosinophilic IAD, which might fit with the atopic, Th2‐primed immune response observed in IBH, but a recent report did not confirm these associations …”

Exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide, pH and leukotriene B4 are associated with lower airway inflammation and airway cytology in the horse

“…Additionally, a current clinical limitation is the reliance on BALF cytology to diagnose IAD. Horses with IAD may not necessarily have BALF cytological abnormalities despite compromised pulmonary function and cytological differential counts may not reflect total cell numbers or activation . Increased EBC H 2 O 2 or LTB 4 concentrations are indicative of increased production and/or impaired removal of inflammatory mediators and may reflect pulmonary leucocyte activity.…”

Equine asthma: An appropriate, translational and comprehendible terminology?

“…In comparison, the study by Wichtel et al . investigates the relationship between airway reactivity and indicators of airway inflammation in a cohort of predominantly young horses presenting with unexplained poor performance (not attributable to a nonrespiratory cause) and chronic cough. The exclusion criteria applied for study eligibility included evidence of laboured breathing at rest.…”