Ann. Méd. Vét., 2003, 147 (3), pp 175 - 180 Effects of glycopyrrolate inhalation on pulmonary function in heaves-affected horses in crisisArt T., Moffarts B. de, Erck E. van; Becker M., Lekeux P.Abstract :
Bronchoconstriction is one of the most constant clinical sign observed in heaves-affected horses in crisis. Cholinergic pathways are involved in the occurrence of this obstruction. Consequently anticholinergic drugs are potentially able to improve the pulmonary function of horses in acute crisis. Among these, atropine and ipratropium bromide have been previously experimented and their beneficial effects reported. In the present work, glycopyrrolate, another synthetic anticholinergic molecule has been tested for bronchodilator efficiency in heaves-affected horses. An acute exacerbation of the illness was obtained by a natural challenge with hay and straw in 7 heaves-affected horses. The first day, the reversibility of the bronchospasm of these horses was controlled by intravenous administration of atropine. Then, pulmonary function tests including mechanics of breathing, ie measurement of pleural pressure changes and respiratory airflows, and arterial blood gases analysis, were performed before as well as 15 and 60 minutes after inhalation of 1500 µg of glycopyrrolate (Robinul(R)). The crisis induced a dramatic increase of total pulmonary resistance and maximal pleural pressure changes as well as a decrease in dynamic lung compliance. These changes were significantly reversed 15 and 60 minutes after inhalation of glycopyrrolate. We did not observe any adverse effects similar to those classically observed with atropine. These results showed that glycopyrrolate is a very efficient bronchodilator that may be used by the practitioner to treat a heaves-affected horses in crisis. Get the PDF Contact person : tatiana.art@ulg.ac.be |