Relationship Between Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid Concentrations of D-dimer and Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 in Horses With Colic

• We evaluated the correlation between D-dimer and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in horses with colic.
• D-dimer and TGF-β1 were correlated in horses with enteritis and mixed conditions.
• Horses with colic display hyperfibrinolysis and local production of TGF-β1.

The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between D-dimer and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in plasma and peritoneal fluid of horses with different types of colic. The study included 124 horses with colic and 12 control horses. The horses with colic were grouped according to diagnosis (obstructions, enteritis, ischemic problems, peritonitis, and other mixed problems), results of the peritoneal fluid analysis (transudate, modified transudate, and exudate), and outcome (survivors and nonsurvivors). There were significant weak correlations between the evaluated proteins and the diagnosis, the outcome, and the type of peritoneal fluid. However, when specific colic groups were evaluated significant (P = .0001), moderate correlations were observed between plasma D-dimer and peritoneal TGF-β1 concentrations in the enteritis (0.67) and mixed (0.82) colic groups. The results suggest a concomitant activation of the fibrinolysis system and the peritoneal local compensatory anti-inflammatory response mediated by TGF-β1 in horses with colic due to enteritis and other problems excluding obstructions, ischemic problems, and peritonitis.