Cardiac output, left ventricular ejection rate, plasma volume, and heart rate changes in equine laminitis-hypertension.

Acute laminitis-hypertension was produced experimentally by carbohydrate overloading of the gastrointestinal tract in 8 horses, and the resulting hemodynamic changes were measured. Statistically significant (P less than 0.01) increases in cardiac output, left ventricular ejection rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure were related to statistically nonsignificant changes in peripheral resistance and a delayed (Obel grade 3 plus 24 hours) decrease in plasma volume. When compared with control values, the doubling of cardiac output and left ventricular ejection rate simultaneous with little or no change in either peripheral resistance or plasma volume (16 hours after the occurrence of Obel grade 3 lameness) was suggestive of an increase in myocardial contractility. Because these pathophysiologic phenomena have important time relationships to the onset of Obel grade 3 lameness in acute laminitis, the results of this investigation are discussed in light of their relationship to clinical signs, serum electrolyte changes, plasma L-lactate alterations, and histologic deterioration of the digit.