PERICARDITIS IN HORSES - 18 CASES (1986-1995)

Objective-To determine clinical signs of pericarditis in horses and to determine whether there were any relationships among clinical signs, echocardiographic findings, treatment, and outcome. Design-Retrospecti ve study. Animals-18 horses. Results-Physical examination was performe d on 16 horses. Cardiovascular abnormalities included tachycardia (n = 16), pericardial friction rub (10), venous distention (7), murmur (7) , muffled heart sounds (6), weak arterial pulse (6), jugular pulse (6) , and edema (5). Twelve horses also had respiratory abnormalities; the most common was dull lung sounds, ventrally, suggestive of pleural ef fusion (10). Echocardiography was the most important tool for diagnosi s of pericarditis. Detection of clinical signs of right-sided heart fa ilure was significantly associated with severe accumulation of pericar dial effusion and with detection of cardiac compromise. Severe accumul ation of pericardial effusion was also significantly associated with e chocardiographic detection of cardiac compromise. Pericarditis was idi opathic in 6 horses, and bacterial in 5. Five horses had nonseptic per icarditis associated with bacterial respiratory disease, and 2 had non septic pericarditis associated with viral respiratory disease. Fourtee n of the 18 horses were treated specifically for pericarditis; 10 rece ived antimicrobials and 6 with suspected immune-mediated pericarditis received corticosteroids. Pericardial drainage and ravage were perform ed on 6 horses in which pericardial effusion or fibrin accumulation wa s compromising cardiac function. Pericarditis resolved in all 14 horse s that were treated, and all 14 returned to their prior intended use. Clinical Implications-With early detection of disease and aggressive t reatment, the prognosis for horses with pericarditis is good.