Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Aortic root disease in four horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Sleeper, M M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of four horses with aortic root disease, three had bulges (aneurysms) in a part of the heart called the right aortic sinus. In two of these cases, the bulge burst, creating an abnormal connection between the aorta and the right ventricle. One horse had a heart murmur since birth, suggesting the bulge might have been a birth defect, while another horse's bulge may have developed due to long-term heart issues. The fourth horse had a large area of bleeding in the heart muscle caused by a tear in the aortic root. The most common early signs in these horses included irregular heartbeats and signs of stomach pain.
Abstract
Clinical findings in 4 horses with aortic root disease are described. Three of the horses had aneurysms of the right aortic sinus, and in 2 of the 3, the aneurysm ruptured, creating a fistula between the aorta and right ventricle. One of these horses had had a murmur since birth, and the aortic sinus aneurysm may have been a congenital anomaly. In a second horse, the aneurysm may have been an acquired condition that developed secondary to chronic aortic regurgitation. Another horse had a large subendocardial hematoma associated with dissection of blood from the aorta to the interventricular septum because of a tear in the aortic root near the right aortic sinus. Ventricular ectopy and signs of abdominal pain were the most common initial signs in these horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11518177/