Resumen

SEMECO, Euro et al. Efficacy of pentoxifylline in the treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in thoroughbred racehorses. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2006, vol.16, n.5, pp.481-491. ISSN 0798-2259.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of the pentoxifylline in the treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in Thoroughbred racehorses. One hundred forty six (146) animals were randomly selected with ages between 3 and 8 years old, they were subjected to two intense exercises (14.6 ± 0.4 m/s) on distances of 1000 meters each, the horses were submitted to endoscopic evaluation of the respiratory tract, between 30 and 90 minutes after each exercise, the objective was to determine the presence of the EIPH and to characterize the intensity of the bleeding. Later, the group of animals which presented EIPH on both exercises was selected in random order as representative sample of bleeding racehorses. They were 40 equines divided in two groups, 20 animals (group I) received pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg, q 12 h, PO) for 7 days and 20 horses (group II) that did not receive treatment. Subsequently, the day after the end of the treatment, on each one of the horses (group I and II), a third endoscopic evaluation of the upper respiratory tract was performed, 30 to 90 minutes after an intense exercise on 1000 meters distance, in order to see the occurrence and severity of the EIPH. The analysis of the data demonstrated statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the presence and intensity of the EIPH and the administration of the pentoxifylline. Eight (40%) of the pentoxifilline-treated animals showed not EIPH, 20 (100%) not treated horses had evidence of EIPH. It was determined that the occurrence of moderate, profuse and visible EIPH respectively was larger in the not treated animals. Therefore, the treatment with pentoxifylline helps to prevent or to diminish the EIPH

Palabras clave : Equinos purasangres; hemorragia pulmonar inducida por el ejercicio; pentoxifilina; Thoroughbred racehorses; exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage; pentoxifilline.