What Is Seen In Horses With Exertional Rhabdomyolysis?

Equine exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is a syndrome that affects the skeletal muscles within a horse. This syndrome causes the muscle to break down which is generally associated with exercise and diet regime.

What are the signs of rhabdomyolysis in horses?

Excessive sweating, quick, shallow breathing, rapid heart rate, and muscle tremors are also noticed. In extreme cases, horses may be reluctant or refuse to move and may produce discolored urine due to the release of myoglobin from damaged muscle tissue.

What are symptoms of exertional rhabdomyolysis?

Muscle pain, malaise, weakness, tenderness, and contractures (knots). Most frequently, the involved muscle groups are the legs and lower back. However, the pain may be generalized to the muscle group most worked during training, and a significant proportion of cases may show no signs of muscle injury at all.

What causes exertional rhabdomyolysis in horses?

Horses of any age or breed can get sporadic exertional rhabdomyolysis. Common causes include overexertion, muscle trauma, nutritional or electrolyte imbalances and extreme fatigue.

What is recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in horses?

Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) is an intermittent form of tying-up in horses that appears to involve an abnormality in intracellular calcium regulation as the possible cause. At present, there is no specific diagnostic test for RER.

Which of the following signs is always present with rhabdomyolysis?

The “classic triad” of rhabdomyolysis symptoms are: muscle pain in the shoulders, thighs, or lower back; muscle weakness or trouble moving arms and legs; and dark red or brown urine or decreased urination.

What is the classic triad of symptoms in rhabdomyolysis?

Clinically, rhabdomyolysis is exhibited by a triad of symptoms: myalgia, weakness, and myoglobinuria, manifested as the classically described tea-colored urine.

What is a common complication of rhabdomyolysis?

Clinical features of rhabdomyolysis may be absent initially, and its most serious complication, acute renal failure, is common. Many patients develop dialysis-dependent acute renal failure associated with the misuse of alcohol or other drugs.

How does overexertion cause rhabdomyolysis?

Exertional or exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis is a condition caused by unaccustomed physical exercise and characterized by a breakdown of skeletal muscles that leads to the release of its intracellular components, such as myoglobin and creatine kinase (CK), into the circulatory system [1-2].

What is acute exertional rhabdomyolysis?

Abstract. Acute exertional rhabdomyolysis is caused by a skeletal muscle injury that results in the release of myoglobin and other cellular contents into the circulatory system. Recent reports suggest that acute exertional rhabdomyolysis is more common and more serious than previously realized.

What are the symptoms of EDM in horses?

The clinical signs of eNAD/EDM are an early onset of symmetric ataxia (≥ grade 2/5),¹⁰ abnormal stance at rest, prominent hypermetria when walked with the head elevated, and general proprioceptive deficits.

Can horses recover from Ehm?

EHM is highly contagious and life-threatening. Recovery is possible, particularly for horses that do not become recumbent. Horses that recover may retain neurological signs. The prognosis is poor for horses that become recumbent.

What protein causes rhabdomyolysis?

When muscle is damaged, a protein called myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is then filtered out of the body by the kidneys. Myoglobin breaks down into substances that can damage kidney cells. Rhabdomyolysis may be caused by injury or any other condition that damages skeletal muscle.

What are two common muscle disorders in horses?

Myopathies are diseases that primarily cause damage to muscles. They may be present at birth (congenital) or occur due to nutritional imbalances, injury, or ingestion of a poisonous substance. Myositis is an inflammatory reaction in muscle.

How is exertional rhabdomyolysis treated?

Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a rare but potentially fatal condition that should be considered in any athlete with significant post-exercise myalgias. Uncomplicated cases can be managed with rest, oral rehydration, and outpatient follow-up.

What causes EDM in horses?

Horses are genetically predisposed to eNAD/EDM, but an environmental trigger in the form of insufficient vitamin E in the diet is required for the onset of clinical signs.

Which of the following is the most common symptom of rhabdomyolysis?

Symptoms usually develop one to three days after the muscle injury, though some people may not even notice muscle soreness. The main signs of rhabdomyolysis include: Muscle swelling. Weak, tender and sore muscles.

What electrolyte imbalance is associated with rhabdomyolysis?

Electrolyte abnormalities are prominent features of rhabdomyolysis. Hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia (early), hypercalcemia (late) hyperuricemia, and hypoalbuminemia have been described. Hyperkalemia may be a result of both muscle injury and renal insufficiency or failure.

What lab values are elevated in rhabdomyolysis?

Repeated blood tests for the muscle protein creatine kinase (CK or creatine phosphokinase [CPK]) are the only accurate test for rhabdo.

• The muscle protein CK enters the bloodstream when muscle tissue is damaged.
• When rhabdo is present, CK levels will rise.

How is rhabdomyolysis characterized?

Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by severe acute muscle injury resulting in muscle pain, weakness, and/or swelling with release of myofiber contents into the bloodstream. Symptoms develop over hours to days after an inciting factor and may be associated with dark pigmentation of the urine.

What happens during rhabdomyolysis?

Rhabdomyolysis (often called rhabdo) is a serious medical condition that can be fatal or result in permanent disability. Rhabdo occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood. These substances can damage the heart and kidneys and cause permanent disability or even death.