Two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the right coronary artery in healthy horses - a pilot study.
Authors: Siwinska Natalia, Michalek Marcin, Zak Agnieszka, Slowikowska Malwina, Noszczyk-Nowak Agnieszka, Niedzwiedz Artur, Paslawska Urszula
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Right Coronary Artery Measurements in Healthy Horses Establishing normal reference ranges for equine coronary artery dimensions via ultrasound represents a critical gap in cardiac imaging interpretation, yet until this pilot study, no standardised measurements of the right coronary artery (RCA) existed in the veterinary literature. The research team used two-dimensional echocardiography to measure RCA diameter and luminal area in a cohort of healthy horses, whilst also investigating whether gender, age and training status influenced these dimensions and evaluating the repeatability of their measurement technique. The study provided the first normative ultrasound data for equine RCA assessment, establishing baseline measurements against which pathological changes could be identified, though the pilot nature of the work indicates that larger sample sizes will be needed to refine these reference ranges further. Understanding how training load, maturation and sex affect coronary dimensions has direct relevance for practitioners monitoring performance horses for cardiac adaptations or screening for coronary anomalies. These foundational measurements represent an important step towards developing standardised protocols for coronary artery assessment in equine practice, with potential applications in pre-purchase examinations, exercise intolerance investigations, and post-treatment monitoring.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Establishes baseline ultrasound reference values for RCA dimensions that can be used for clinical comparison in horses with suspected cardiac disease
- •Understanding how gender, age, and training affect RCA size helps distinguish normal variation from pathology in practice
- •Confirms that ultrasound RCA measurements are reproducible, supporting their use as a standardized diagnostic tool in equine practice
Key Findings
- •This is the first study to establish ultrasonographic reference ranges for right coronary artery diameter and lumen area in horses
- •Study assessed the influence of gender, age, and training level on RCA dimensions in healthy equine subjects
- •Intra- and inter-observer measurement repeatability was evaluated for ultrasound assessment of RCA