Intravascular hemolysis associated with severe cutaneous burn injuries in five horses

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 226; no. 12; pp. 2039 - 2043
• Main Authors: Norman, T.E, Chaffin, M.K, Johnson, M.C, Spangler, E.A, Weeks, B.R, Knight, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15-06-2005
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; blood chemistry; burns (injuries); Burns - blood; Burns - complications; Burns - drug therapy; Burns - veterinary; case studies; complications; Hemolysis; Horse Diseases - drug therapy; Horse Diseases - etiology; horses; Horses - injuries; kidney diseases; Male; renal failure; Skin - injuries; Uremia - drug therapy; Uremia - etiology; Uremia - veterinary
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.2039

Five horses were evaluated because of severe cutaneous burn injuries following a barn fire. Gross hemolysis and morphologic changes in RBCs consistent with oxidative damage were detected in all of the horses. Of these horses, 4 became azotemic. The overall goals of treatment included wound care, correction of dehydration and provision of diuresis, control of inflammation, pain management, and prophylaxis against sepsis. After treatment, 2 horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Red blood cell damage and hemolysis following cutaneous burn injury have been investigated in other species and appear to be a result of the release of oxygen radicals from complement-activated neutrophils. Early intervention with aggressive fluid therapy is recommended in the treatment of human burn patients and is likely to be of benefit in horses with burn injuries; a beneficial role of free radical scavengers and xanthine oxidase inhibitors has also been suggested.