Differences in pulmonary function measured by oscillometry between horses with mild-moderate equine asthma and healthy controls.
Authors: Lo Feudo Chiara Maria, Ferrucci Francesco, Bizzotto Davide, Dellacà Raffaele, Lavoie Jean-Pierre, Stucchi Luca
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Oscillometry in Mild-Moderate Equine Asthma Diagnosing mild-moderate equine asthma (MEA) currently relies on endoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, and indirect pleural pressure measurement, yet these methods have practical limitations in clinical settings. Researchers compared oscillometric measurements between horses with MEA (confirmed by standard diagnostic criteria) and healthy controls to evaluate whether oscillometry could reliably detect the subtle airway obstruction characteristic of milder disease. Oscillometry successfully differentiated between the two groups, demonstrating that this non-invasive technique can identify physiological airway changes even when obstruction is not severe enough to produce clinical signs. The findings suggest oscillometry warrants consideration as a complementary diagnostic tool, particularly valuable for early detection and monitoring of disease progression in suspected cases. For practitioners, this offers a relatively quick, portable alternative for objective pulmonary assessment, though integration into standard diagnostic protocols will require further validation across diverse clinical populations and management scenarios.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Oscillometry may have limitations in detecting early or subclinical airway disease in horses, so practitioners should consider combining it with endoscopy and BALf cytology for comprehensive MEA diagnosis
- •Indirect pleural pressure measurement remains a reliable lung function evaluation method alongside traditional diagnostic approaches for equine asthma
- •Further research is needed to establish oscillometry's clinical utility in routine MEA screening and diagnosis
Key Findings
- •Oscillometry is evaluated as a pulmonary function test method for detecting differences between horses with mild-moderate equine asthma and healthy controls
- •The study questions oscillometry's ability to detect subclinical airway obstruction in horses
- •Airway endoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology, and indirect pleural pressure measurement are confirmed diagnostic tools for mild-moderate equine asthma