Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Thoroughbred colt with blood clotting issues - what to know
By Edens, L M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1993·Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypercoagulable state associated with a deficiency of protein C in a thoroughbred colt.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A Thoroughbred colt was brought in with signs of blood clots, which can cause serious health issues. Tests showed that while the colt had normal levels of a protein called protein C, its activity was low, indicating a problem with how his body was producing it. This condition led to a higher risk of clotting, but it was linked to uncomplicated kidney disease rather than other serious conditions. The colt was diagnosed with a rare deficiency of protein C activity, which had not been reported in horses before.
People also search for: horse blood clot symptoms · Thoroughbred colt kidney disease · protein C deficiency in horses
Abstract
Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease with anticoagulant and profibrinolytic activity which is synthesized in the liver. Decreased protein C activity was detected in a Thoroughbred colt with clinical and histopathologic evidence of recurrent venous thrombosis. Although protein C activity was reduced, protein C antigen concentration was normal. Consumptive coagulopathies produce a decrease in both the functional and antigenic concentrations of protein C, thus a defect in protein C synthesis was suspected. Inhibition of gamma-carboxylation secondary to vitamin K antagonism results in the synthesis of a protein C molecule with antigenicity, but without biological activity. However, there was no evidence of vitamin K antagonism. The hypercoaguable state resulting from the reduced activity of protein C in this colt was associated with uncomplicated renal disease, rather than a protein C consumptive process such as endotoxemia. A primary hypercoagulable state due to a deficiency of protein C activity was diagnosed. Primary deficiencies of protein C activity have not been previously documented in horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8331614/