RADIOGRAPHIC, VENOGRAPHIC AND HOOF GROWTH EVALUATIONS IN EQUINE FORELIMBS WITH CHRONIC LAMINITIS TREATED OR NOT WITH MESENQUIMAL STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM ADIPOSE TISSUE
Authors: A. S. Oliveira, C. Paz, M. Lima, P. C. Duarte, L. O. Cota, S. S. R. Junior, VP Silva, B. S. Monteiro, B. Leise, A.B. Carvalho, R. R. Faleiros
Journal: Cytotherapy
Summary
# Editorial Summary Chronic laminitis remains a challenging condition to manage, and whilst farriery and medical interventions can stabilise the distal phalanx, exploring adjunctive therapies that might actively promote tissue healing has obvious merit. This study investigated whether adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSC), delivered via regional digital vein perfusion, could enhance vascular recovery and hoof horn growth in six mares with established chronic laminitis; each mare received three infusions of 20 million cells at 15-day intervals in one forelimb, with the contralateral limb serving as a placebo control. Digital venography revealed significantly improved vascular perfusion in treated limbs only, whilst radiographic analysis using Hoof Metron software documented superior dorsal hoof wall realignment and faster hoof capsule growth rates in Ad-MSC-treated hooves compared to controls. For practitioners, the bilateral treatment approach is particularly important—the marked asymmetry in outcomes between treated and untreated limbs underscores that stem cell therapy requires regional administration to each affected foot rather than systemic application. Whilst the small sample size warrants caution, these findings suggest Ad-MSC therapy may complement conventional farriery and rehabilitation protocols by promoting revascularisation and supporting the structural remodelling necessary for long-term laminitis management, though further investigation in larger populations is needed before broader clinical adoption.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ad-MSC therapy may offer a complementary option for chronic laminitis cases already on standard realignment protocols, with measurable improvements in blood flow and hoof-bone relationships
- •Regional infusions must be performed on each affected limb individually—systemic or single-limb treatment will not benefit contralateral hooves
- •This therapy appears most suitable for horses with stable chronic laminitis; results suggest combining regional perfusion with farriery-based realignment strategies may optimize outcomes
Key Findings
- •Ad-MSC therapy significantly improved vascular perfusion in treated forelimbs compared to placebo controls (P<0.05)
- •Hoof growth rate increased in Ad-MSC treated limbs with improved spatial relationship between distal phalanx and hoof capsule
- •Improvements were limb-specific, occurring only in treated forelimbs, indicating regional infusion necessity for efficacy
- •Treatment protocol of 20 million Ad-MSCs in 3 infusions over 45 days showed therapeutic potential in stable chronic laminitis management