Des Leadon

9^th December 2008

 

Erythropoetin (EPO) was first described as a regulator of red blood cell production in the early 20^th century (Carnot and Deflandre 1906). It is now recognised to be regulated by reduced oxygen levels (Wenger 2002). EPO acts as a protector of neurones in hypoxic-related brain injury and is used in humans as a prognostic indicator in hypoxic-ishcaemic CNS injury (Marti 2004).

 

Equine neonatal hypoxic-iscahemic injury is a significant cause of economic loss in the horse breeding industry. These losses result from the need for immediate referral for high cost neonatal intensive care and in a significant number of cases, subsequent mortality. There is a need for improved prognosis in cases of hypoxic-ishcaemic injury so that intensive care can be initiated or a decision for euthanasia can be taken, with greater confidence than is possible at the present time.

 

Measurement of circulating EPO is used in analogous cases in man, but there are no reports to date of its potential for use in the equine neonate.

This project aims to determine:

1. EPO levels in normal neonatal foals. 

2. EPO levels in neonatal foals with hypoxic-iscaemic CNS damage.

3. Investigate whether EPO levels may be a prognostic indicator in neonatal foals with hypoxic-ischaemic CNS injury.

 

The benefits of the project will include:

1. A description of EPO levels in normal neonatal foals

2. A description of EPO levels in neonatal foals with hypoxic-iscaemic CNS injury

3. An evaluation of the potential for EPO levels to be used as a prognostic indicator for foals with hypoxic-ischaemic CNS injury.

 

The results of the study will be published on this web page and made available on completion at no cost.

Completion is scheduled for Autumn 2009.