Effects of ophthalmic disease on concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A in the horse.
Authors: Labelle A L, Hamor R E, Macneill A L, Lascola K M, Breaux C B, Tolar E L
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Ophthalmic Disease and Systemic Inflammation in Horses Ocular disease in horses can trigger measurable systemic inflammatory responses, yet this relationship remained poorly characterised in the scientific literature. Labelle and colleagues investigated whether eye conditions elevate two key acute-phase proteins—plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A (SAA)—by comparing concentrations in horses with naturally occurring ophthalmic disease to healthy controls. Horses with active ocular pathology demonstrated significantly elevated fibrinogen and SAA levels, suggesting that localised eye disease generates a detectable systemic inflammatory cascade. These findings have important implications for pre-operative assessment; elevated acute-phase markers in horses requiring vision-saving ocular surgery may influence anaesthetic risk stratification and post-operative recovery outcomes. Clinicians should consider measuring fibrinogen and SAA in ophthalmic cases scheduled for theatre, particularly those with concurrent systemic signs, to better predict surgical complications and optimise perioperative management.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ophthalmic disease can cause measurable systemic inflammation, requiring assessment of inflammatory markers before anaesthesia for eye surgery
- •Clinicians should evaluate systemic inflammatory status in horses presenting with ocular disease to optimize surgical outcomes
Key Findings
- •Ocular disease triggers systemic inflammatory response measurable via plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A
- •Systemic health assessment is critical prior to vision-saving ophthalmic surgery under anaesthesia in horses