Peritoneal bile acids concentration in adult horses with hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Peritoneal bile acids concentration (PBAC) has not been previously reported in horses. A case of liver lobe torsion in which increased PBAC was detected prompted us to study PBAC in horses.

Objectives: (a) To determine a reference range of PBAC in horses; (b) to compare PBAC from horses with either hepatic or gastrointestinal disease and healthy horses and (c) to assess the prognostic and diagnostic values of PBAC.

Evaluation of an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant in healthy adult horses.

Objective: To assess whether an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor (DiXaI) anticoagulant drug used at the low end of the recommended dose in people achieves presumed prophylactic plasma concentrations and does not induce bleeding in horses.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Field study.

Parallel testing of plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations to detect systemic inflammation in hospitalized horses.

Objectives: To determine if plasma iron concentration is different between horses with and without systemic inflammation (SI) and to assess the accuracy for the detection of SI by assaying plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations, individually or combined. To assess the prognostic value of plasma iron concentration and to describe the progression of plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations during hospital follow-up, and its relation to SI and survival.

Design: Prospective observational study evaluating plasma iron and fibrinogen.