A simple blood test to measure plasma D-Dimer concentration in horses with colic might help veterinarians predict severity and outcome of cases, as concentrations are higher in horses with severe gastrointestinal (GI) disease, according to a group of University of Barcelona researchers.

D-Dimers are small protein fragments that are found in blood after it clots. Veterinarians often measure D-Dimer levels when they believe horses suffering from ailments such as severe GI disorders and sepsis are at risk for developing clots. But recently Luis Monreal, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECEIM, and colleagues confirmed in a prospective observational clinical study that levels are also higher in horses with specific severe colic signs, and that these horses had more clotting disorders than their colicky counterparts.

Researchers recorded the blood levels of D-Dimer in 493 horses admitted to the University's hospital with clinical signs of colic (both medical and surgical cases), the eventual diagnosis of each horse, and if the horse recovered. They found that horses with diagnoses of enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal tract) or peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane lining in the abdomen) had significantly higher levels of D-Dimer than horses with other diagnoses. Their findings also revealed that study horses that died as a result of any type of colic had the highest blood levels of D-Dimer.

"The most severe forms of GI diseases–marked by inflammatory and ischemic (lack of blood flow) problems–produce a strong activation of the coagulation system," Monreal explained