Abstract
Objective
To determine changes in clinical signs of disease and response to pulmonary function testing in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves) after aerosol and parenteral administration of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone, respectively.
Animals
6 horses with inducible and reversible heaves.
Procedure
Episodes of heaves were induced by exposure (challenge) to moldy hay and straw for 7 days. Horses were assigned to treatment groups (aerosolized beclomethasone dipropionate, parenterally administered dexamethasone, aerosolized propellant [control]), and respiratory frequency and subjective assessment of respiratory effort were determined twice daily. Maximal change in pleural pressure (ΔPplmax), pulmonary resistance (RL), and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was determined on days 0, 7, 10, 14, and 21.
Results
The RL and ΔPplmax were increased, and Cdyn was decreased in all horses in response to natural challenge. Beclomethasone reduced RL on day 10, reduced ΔPplmax on days 14 and 21 and increased Cdyn on day 14. Dexamethasone reduced RL and ΔPplmax on days 10, 14, and 21 and increased Cdyn on days 10 and 14. Respiratory effort (subjective assessment) improved after 2 and 3 days of beclomethasone and dexamethasone administration but rebounded to pretreatment values 1 and 3 days after discontinuation of drugs.
Conclusions
Pulmonary function testing responses and clinical signs of airway obstruction were improved by administration of beclomethasone. The magnitude of response to aerosolized beclomethasone generally was less marked than the response to parenterally administered dexamethasone. Higher or more frequent dosing of aerosolized beclomethasone may be necessary to achieve the anti-inflammatory response to parenterally administered dexamethasone. (Am J Vet Res 1998;59:1039–1043)
