Pericarditis is a disease involving the sac around the heart and the heart itself. The disease is uncommon. During the spring of 2001, however, an unexpectedly large number of cases were observed in Central Kentucky. These cases coincided with the mare reproductive loss (MRLS) syndrome. A recent study provided interesting findings about this outbreak.
   

First, the research showed scientifically that MRLS (which included early fetal loss and late-term abortions) and the cases of pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart) seen in Kentucky in the spring of 2001 are related.
   

Drs. Nathan Slovis, of Hagyard-Davidson-McGee, and Johanna Reimer, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, both in Lexington, Ky., collected data for the study that was analyzed and interpreted by a group headed by Dr. Noah Cohen of Texas A&M University. This study was created by a task force set up by Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and funded by the commonwealth and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Other members of the team included Drs. Vincent Carey, James Donahue, Janyce Seahorn, Chris Smith, and Shelly Lenz.
  

“This study (of pericarditis cases) points out things that are interesting and significant, but we can’t say what the cause is,” said Slovis. “We can say MRLS and pericarditis in Kentucky this spring was related; they might not be brother and sister, but they certainly are cousins