Med. Weter. 74 (11), 687-692, 2018
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BEATA ABRAMOWICZ, ANDRZEJ MILCZAK, BEATA KACZMAREK,
ŁUKASZ KUREK, TOMASZ RIHA, KRZYSZTOF LUTNICKI |
Coagulation system in horses in the aspect of comparative pathology |
The coagulation system, which is responsible for maintaining an organism’s hemostasis, is present in all
mammals; nevertheless, there are differences in the dynamics of processes of coagulation activation and
fibrinolysis in individual species. In horses, the development of hemostasis processes is different at all stages
in comparison to humans. Primary hemostasis is maintained at a relatively low number of thrombocytes with
coexisting differences in the structure and morphology of blood platelets. For many years, primary hemostasis
has been determined solely on the basis of coagulation time; currently, lumiagregometry or impedance
aggregation is used. New techniques and technologies allow an ever broader view of the pathogenesis of many
diseases in terms of the coagulation system’s abnormalities, which either stand for an etiologic factor or only
accompany the disease (they are its result).
In the course of horse colic, especially in acute and recurrent forms, there are several changes in the parameters
of the hemostatic system. It is believed that DIC is the most common coagulopathy. However, there is are no
definite life-extending criteria as well as postmortem diagnosis of this syndrome. Changes in blood rheology
after exercise are primarily due to an increase in hematocrit. The impact of exercise on the coagulation system
in horses was analyzed, and showed a tendency in EPIH horses for the occurrence of hypercoagulability with
the prolongation of blood coagulation parameters. The role and the contribution of the coagulation system in
the etiopathogenesis of equine laminitis is not clear; in the case of carbohydrate overdosage microtrombosis,
reduced platelet survival and their over-aggregation have been reported. Clinical studies in sick animals show
that coagulopathy such as DIC and antithrombin deficiency are not primary factors in the etiopathogenesis
of laminitis.. |
Key words: horses, horses colic, EIPH, laminitis |