Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with yellow skin and eyes - what does it mean?
By Divers, T J et al.·Published in The Cornell veterinarian·1993·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Persistent hyperbilirubinemia in a healthy thoroughbred horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old Thoroughbred horse was found to have high levels of bilirubin in its blood, which caused a yellowing of the skin and eyes, known as icterus. This condition wasn't linked to the horse's diet or any signs of increased breakdown of red blood cells or liver disease. Instead, it seems that the horse's body wasn't processing bilirubin properly. This situation resembles a condition seen in humans where there is a genetic issue affecting bilirubin processing. Overall, the horse's condition is unusual but not related to any serious health problems.
Abstract
Persistent hyperbilirubinemia and icterus are described in a healthy 4-year-old Thoroughbred horse. Hyperbilirubinemia was not related to food intake and was not associated with evidence of increased hemolysis or with acquired hepatic disease. The hyperbilirubinemia was thought to be a result of inappropriate conjugation of bilirubin rather than any abnormality in bilirubin uptake or excretion. The bilirubinemia in this horse appears most similar to a human syndrome, caused by a familial deficiency of bilirubin-uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8403923/