Procalcitonin In Horses With An Acute Colic

In comparison to other animal species the horse is very sensitive to the systemic consequences of endotoxemia leading to a high morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal (e.g. colic or colitis) disease. Procalcitonin (PCT) is used in human medicine as a sensitive marker for the presence of a bacterial infection and endotoxemia. In this study, PCT was determined in endotoxemic horses with an acute colic and compared to the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alpha. The aim of this study was to examine whether the PCT plasma concentrations increases in horses with an acute colic compared to healthy horses, changes during the next days after referral to the hospital and whether it can be used to predict survival. 13 horses with an acute colic were classified as endotoxemic based on the results of the clinical and laboratory examination upon admission to the hospital, using a modified score and compared with 20 healthy control horses. For the determination of PCT, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNFa blood was collected from all horses at the time of admission at the equine hospital. Blood samples were quantified at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen using an ELISA. A strangulating ileus was diagnosed in 11 horses, an obstructing ileus and enteritis in each case a horse. Endotoxemic horses with an intestinal strangulation showed significantly higher concentrations of median PCT and IL-1 beta in plasma or serum than the healthy control group. Horses that underwent laparotomy also had significantly higher PCT and IL1-beta-plasma or serum concentrations than healthy controls. A follow up measurement of IL-1 beta and PCT over a 72-hour-period at 7 horses showed no significant changes in the levels. Significantly low median IL-6 serum levels could be measured in the patients when compared to healthy horses. The median serum concentrations of TNF alpha showed no significant differences between endotoxaemic and healthy horses. A correlation between PCT and IL-1 beta and survival of patients could not be established. PCT seems to be a promising biomarker for the detection of endotoxemia for the equine medicine but further research is needed.