A pilot study evaluating the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram assay and application of plasma-thromboelastography for detection of hemostatic aberrations in horses with gastrointestinal disease.
Authors: Honoré Marie Louise, Pihl Tina Holberg, Nielsen Lise Nikolic
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Horses suffering from gastrointestinal disease frequently develop coagulation abnormalities that conventional clotting tests may fail to detect, yet global haemostatic assays—which evaluate the complete cascade from initiation through clot strength to fibrinolysis—have never been properly validated for equine use. Honoré and colleagues conducted a pilot study to establish the technical reliability of the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) and plasma-thromboelastography (TEG) in equine plasma, testing intra- and inter-assay variability on platelet-poor samples and validating a heparin dilution curve before progressing to clinical application. When applied to healthy horses alongside animals with mild and severe gastrointestinal disease, both assays demonstrated the capacity to differentiate haemostatic profiles across these groups, revealing distinct patterns associated with disease severity. These findings are significant because they establish methodological benchmarks for two sophisticated coagulation tests that capture the dynamic, integrated nature of the clotting cascade—information that standard laboratory values (PT, aPTT) cannot provide—potentially enabling earlier detection of coagulopathies in critical equine patients before clinical signs of bleeding or thrombosis emerge. For practitioners managing equine colic and other GI emergencies, validated access to these assays could refine prognostic assessment and guide targeted anticoagulant or procoagulant interventions more precisely than current practice permits.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •CAT and plasma-TEG offer new diagnostic tools to assess coagulation status in critically ill horses with GI disease beyond traditional coagulation tests
- •These global hemostatic assays can differentiate hemostatic aberrations between healthy horses and those with mild versus severe GI complications
- •Consider implementing these tests in critical cases to guide therapeutic decisions and monitor treatment response in horses with gastrointestinal disease
Key Findings
- •CAT and plasma-TEG assays were successfully evaluated and applied in equine plasma for the first time
- •Both tests demonstrated ability to detect hemostatic differences between healthy horses and those with mild versus severe GI disease
- •CAT showed acceptable intra- and inter-assay variability suitable for clinical use in horses
- •Global hemostatic testing may identify coagulation abnormalities in critically ill horses with GI disease