Gastric ulcers pose a significant concern in horses, particularly those engaged in high-
(c) Abby Koriaty Dreamstime.com
performance activities or those under stress.
The horse’s stomach is divided into two distinct regions, the squamous and glandular mucosa. The upper (dorsal) portion of the stomach is covered by squamous epithelium. The glandular mucosa that lines the lower (ventral) portion of the stomach contains gastric glands that secrete hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen, histamine, mucous, and sodium bicarbonate.
Omeprazole is commonly used, in conjunction with management changes, for treating gastric ulcers in horses. Classified as a 'proton pump inhibitor,' omeprazole functions by inhibiting the hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system, usually known as the 'proton pump.' This enzyme system is found in the cells of the glandular mucosa that produce stomach acid. Omeprazole disrupts the normal operation of proton pumps, resulting in a reduction in stomach acid production.
Omeprazole is typically administered orally, using daily paste formulations or enteric-coated granules. An increasingly popular treatment for equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) involves the weekly administration of an extended-release injectable omeprazole formulation (ERIO*) which is available in some countries.
Tania Sundra and her colleagues conducted a study to assess the impact of ERIO formulation treatment administered at 5- or 7-day intervals on ESGD and EGGD. They reviewed clinical records from Avon Ridge Equine Practice, Western Australia, covering gastroscopic examinations conducted from July 2020 to November 2021, identifying horses that had been treated with ERIO.
Gastroscopic images, anonymized and graded by a researcher unaware of the treatment group, were used for comparison. Univariable ordered logistic regression was employed to analyze responses to the two treatment schedules.
The findings, indicating a higher proportion of EGGD healing with ERIO administered at 5-day intervals compared to 7-day intervals, were reported without an apparent rise in complications. However, no significant difference was observed in the proportions of ESGD healing between the two treatment regimens.
A detailed report of this study can be found in the Equine Veterinary Journal. The authors suggest that the use of ERIO at 5-day intervals might be more appropriate than the 7-day interval that is used currently.
For more details, see:
Five- versus seven-day dosing intervals of extended-release injectable omeprazole in the treatment of equine squamous and glandular gastric disease
Tania Sundra, Erin Kelty, David Rendle
Equine Vet J (2024) Vol 56(1):51-58.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13938
*Extended-release injectable omeprazole . BOVA Australia
No comments:
Post a Comment