Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Concentration of cardiac troponin I in a horse with a ruptured aortic regurgitation jet lesion and ventricular tachycardia.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2000
- Authors:
- Cornelisse, C J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding suddenly developed a fast heart rate and signs of colic, which is a type of abdominal pain. This horse had previously been diagnosed with a heart murmur related to aortic regurgitation (when blood leaks back into the heart), but he had been doing well in competitions until now. Tests showed a serious heart defect, and his heart issues continued to worsen while he was in the hospital. Unfortunately, the decision was made to euthanize him, and a post-mortem examination revealed a severe heart condition. This case highlights that measuring certain heart proteins in the blood could help veterinarians assess heart problems in horses.
Abstract
An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated because of sudden onset of ventricular tachycardia and signs of colic. Three years earlier, a diastolic decrescendo murmur, consistent with aortic regurgitation, had been detected, but the horse continued to perform well and compete successfully. Cardiac ultrasonographic examination revealed a defect in the interventricular septum below the aortic root, and serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were higher than those measured in clinically normal horses. Repeated development of tachyarrhythmia during hospitalization prompted a decision to euthanatize the horse. A ruptured endocardial jet lesion below the aortic valve with formation of a cleft into the interventricular septum was found on necropsy. This report of increased serum cTnI concentrations in a horse with myocardial disease and our other findings suggest that assessment of cardiac troponin concentrations may be a useful tool in the evaluation of horses with suspected myocardial disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10909465/