Sucrose concentration in blood: a new method for assessment of gastric permeability in horses with gastric ulceration.
Authors: Hewetson M, Cohen N D, Love S, Buddington R K, Holmes W, Innocent G T, Roussel A J
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Serum Sucrose Testing for Equine Gastric Ulcer Detection Detecting gastric ulceration in horses traditionally requires endoscopy, an invasive and time-consuming procedure that limits screening in performance populations. Hewetson and colleagues investigated whether measuring blood sucrose concentration following oral sucrose administration could serve as a non-invasive alternative, building on earlier research using urinary sucrose excretion—a test hampered by practical collection difficulties. In twelve horses with naturally acquired gastric ulcers, serum sucrose levels were significantly elevated at 30–90 minutes post-dosing in animals with moderate to severe ulceration, with peak concentrations occurring at 45 minutes and showing strong correlation with endoscopically determined ulcer severity (Spearman's rank correlation = 0.898, P < 0.05). The serum method overcomes the logistical challenges of urine collection, making it substantially more practical for field use in training yards and competition environments. Whilst this pilot study demonstrates promising correlation between serum sucrose concentration and ulcer severity, further research in larger populations and across different management systems will be necessary before widespread clinical adoption, though the technique offers genuine potential for non-invasive screening and longitudinal monitoring of at-risk performance horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •A simple blood test measuring serum sucrose levels could screen for gastric ulcers in performance horses without the technical difficulties of urine collection
- •Peak sucrose concentration at 45 minutes post-dosing correlates strongly with ulcer severity, enabling assessment of ulcer burden in racing and high-performance horses
- •This noninvasive method could facilitate regular monitoring of gastric health in horses undergoing intense training without requiring gastroscopy
Key Findings
- •Horses with moderate to severe gastric ulceration showed significant increases in serum sucrose concentration at 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes post-administration (P < 0.05)
- •Peak serum sucrose concentration occurred at 45 minutes and showed strong correlation with ulcer severity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.898, P < 0.05)
- •Serum sucrose testing may provide a noninvasive alternative to urine sucrose testing for detecting endoscopically visible gastric ulceration