Rocchigiani, Guido 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3742-7636, Verin, Ranieri, Uzal, Francisco A, Singer, Ellen R, Pregel, Paola, Ressel, Lorenzo ORCID: 0000-0002-6614-1223 and Ricci, Emanuele ORCID: 0000-0001-9751-0661
(2022)
Pulmonary bleeding in racehorses: A gross, histologic, and ultrastructural comparison of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY, 59 (6).
pp. 973-982.
ISSN 0300-9858, 1544-2217
Abstract
Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is a common condition of Thoroughbred racehorses that is usually responsible for reduced performance, while exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage (EAFPH) is characterized by severe pulmonary bleeding of unknown pathogenesis resulting in sudden death during strenuous exercise. The aim of the study was to characterize and compare anamnestic data together with pulmonary gross, histologic, and ultrastructural findings in racehorses with EIPH (n = 10), EAFPH (n = 10), and control horses (n = 5). No differences in anamnesis were identified between the 3 groups. Grossly cranial lobe reddening and edema scores were significantly more prevalent and severe in the EAFPH group compared with the EIPH and control groups. Histologically, hemorrhage scores were higher in the EAFPH group, while hemosiderophages, iron encrustations of collagen and elastin fibers, and vascular remodeling scores were significantly higher in EIPH group compared with the EAFPH and control groups. In all groups, caudal lung locations exhibited a significantly higher score for vascular remodeling, hemosiderophage accumulation, iron encrustation, and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia when compared with cranial, dorsal, and ventral locations. Ultrastructural analysis of perivascular collagen showed fibrils with significantly larger diameters in the EAFPH group compared with the EIPH group but not compared with the control group. This study demonstrates that lungs of horses that experienced EAFPH show significantly less vascular remodeling and other long-term pulmonary abnormalities that characterize horses with EIPH.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, hemosiderin, horse, iron encrustation, lung, sudden death, vascular remodeling |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Sep 2022 13:32 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 13:29 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/03009858221117859 |
| Open Access URL: | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0300... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3164380 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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