INTRAVASCULAR AND PERITONEAL COAGULATION AND FIBRINOLYSIS IN HORSES WITH ACUTE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT DISEASES

Components of the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades, prothrombin a nd activated partial thromboplastin times, endotoxin activity, and alb umin concentration were measured in blood and peritoneal fluid from 20 healthy horses and from 153 horses with acute gastrointestinal tract diseases at admission. Overall, 77% (117/153) of affected horses survi ved to discharged from the hospital, and 85% (82/97) of horses dischar ged were reported to be normal 9 to 14 months later. Significant diffe rences in hemostatic factors were more common in peritoneal fluid than in blood. Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen, protein C, antit hrombin III, and alpha(2)-antiplasmin activities and concentrations of fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products were significantly (P < 0. 05)greater in peritoneal fluid from horses with colic, and, with the e xception of fibrinogen concentration, were associated with detection o f endotoxin. Higher values for these variables, except tissue of plasm inogen activator activity, were significantly (P < 0.05) associated wi th survival. Plasminogen, antithrombin III, and alpha(2)-antiplasmin a ctivities were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in peritoneal fluid fr om horses with inflammatory or strangulating lesions, compared with th ose in horses with simple colic. Plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 activity, fibrin degradation products concentration, and prothrombin time were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the blood of hoses with colic. Survival was inversely associated with significantly (P < 0.05 ) greater intravascular concentrations of fibrin degradation products and fibrinogen and prothrombin time. This study revealed marked contra sts between peritoneal and intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses with colic, indicating that inferences regarding the periton eal environment, particularly with respect to fibrinolytic capacity, s hould not be made on the basis of factors measured in blood.