[Pathogenesis and drug therapy of acute laminitis in horses: a literature review].

Summary

# Editorial Summary Microcirculatory failure in the distal foot is recognised as central to laminitis pathogenesis, and early intervention during the acute phase is critical to prevent irreversible structural damage and chronic sequelae. Boosman and Németh reviewed the emerging pharmacological approaches of the late 1980s, examining how anticoagulants (particularly heparin) could mitigate the thrombotic episodes commonly observed within the pedal corium, whilst alpha-adrenergic antagonists such as phenoxybenzamine were evaluated for their capacity to restore peripheral perfusion through vasodilation. The authors synthesise evidence supporting a three-pronged therapeutic strategy combining anticoagulation, peripheral vasodilation, and anti-inflammatory medication initiated at the earliest signs of acute laminitis. For contemporary practice, this work underscores why prompt recognition of laminitis onset and aggressive microcirculatory support remain fundamental—before vascular compromise progresses beyond the point of therapeutic recovery—and suggests that multimodal pharmacological intervention addressing both thrombotic and vasomotor dysfunction offers a more mechanistically sound approach than monotherapy alone.

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Key Findings

• •Impairment of microcirculation in the distal foot is a critical aetiological factor in equine laminitis
• •Anticoagulants such as heparin can control thrombosis that frequently occurs in the foot corium during laminitis
• •Alpha-receptor blocking agents (phenoxybenzamine) improve peripheral blood flow during acute laminitis
• •Combined use of anticoagulants, alpha-blockers, and anti-inflammatory agents during acute phase may prevent progression to chronic laminitis

Conditions Studied