Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prekallikrein deficiency in a family of Belgian horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1990
- Authors:
- Geor, R J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Belgian stallion bled excessively after being neutered, prompting an investigation into his blood clotting ability. While some tests showed normal results, one specific test called activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was much longer than usual, indicating a problem with blood clotting. Further tests revealed that this horse, along with his brother and sister, had very low levels of a protein called prekallikrein, which is important for proper clotting. When normal plasma was added to their blood samples, the clotting time improved, suggesting that the siblings may have inherited a genetic condition that affects their ability to produce this protein. Overall, the findings indicate that these three Belgian horses likely have a genetic deficiency in prekallikrein, which could affect their health and treatment options.
Abstract
A 7-year-old Belgian stallion hemorrhaged excessively after castration; the hemostatic mechanism was investigated. The horse had normal one-stage prothrombin time and markedly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Results of intrinsic coagulation factor assays were all normal with the exception of prekallikrein activity, which was markedly reduced (less than 1% activity; value for control population, 63 to 150%). Two of this horse's full siblings, a brother and sister, had markedly prolonged APTT and low prekallikrein values (2.5% and less than 1%, respectively). The addition of plasma from a normal equine plasma pool corrected the prolonged APTT in the 3 Belgian sibling with low prekallikrein activity. Prekallikrein activity in 10 other closely related Belgian horses ranged between 12.5 and 64% (mean, 29.3%), compared with 63 to 150% (mean, 91%) in 10 mixed-breed horses. In the 3 Belgian siblings with low prekallikrein activity, the APTT approached normal after prolonged incubation (15 minutes) with the contact activator and in response to addition of an ellagic acid activator. The 3 Belgian siblings with low prekallikrein activity may be homozygous for prekallikrein deficiency, whereas the other close relatives may be heterozygous for the genetic defect.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2211324/