Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Use of extracorporeal hemoperfusion therapy in an adult horse with Clostridioides difficile colitis and severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Hobbs, Kallie J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was treated with a special procedure called extracorporeal hemoperfusion therapy to help with a serious infection caused by Clostridioides difficile, which led to a severe inflammatory response in his body. He showed signs of this condition, including rapid breathing, fast heart rate, fever, low white blood cell count, changes in the color of his gums, and high levels of lactate in his blood. Because he also had sudden kidney problems, the usual anti-inflammatory medications couldn't be used safely. After undergoing the hemoperfusion therapy twice within two days, his condition stabilized, but unfortunately, he was euthanized four days later due to laminitis, a painful hoof condition. This case suggests that extracorporeal hemoperfusion therapy might be worth exploring further as a treatment option for severe inflammatory responses in horses.
Abstract
An 8-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was treated with extracorporeal hemoperfusion (HP) therapy for treatment of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) colitis-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The gelding developed C. difficile associated peracute colitis and severe SIRS as evidenced by a positive fecal C. difficile PCR and tachypnea, tachycardia, fever, neutropenia, altered mucous membrane color, and hyperlactatemia. Concurrent acute kidney injury in the horse limited the use of routine anti-inflammatory and anti-lipopolysaccharide treatments, including flunixin meglumine and polymyxin B, because of potential for nephrosis. Extracorporeal HP therapy was performed twice within 48 hours of the onset of severe SIRS during which the horse's physical examination variables stabilized. The horse was euthanized after 4 days because of laminitis. These findings support further investigation of extracorporeal HP therapy as an adjunctive treatment for severe SIRS/sepsis in horses.
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/39122666/