Borchers et al. performed this prospective, observational study in order to prospectively evaluate the prognostic value of sequential blood lactate concentration analysis in critically ill neonatal foals with risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate serial blood lactate concentration and blood lactate concentration changes over a 120 hour time period of hospitalisation using a prospective multicentre approach

Blood lactate concentration measurements are of prognostic value for morbidity and mortality in critically ill human patients and neonatal foals, but have not been prospectively evaluated in a large multicentre study of critically ill neonatal foals.

Thirteen university and private equine referral hospitals enrolled 643 foals over the 2008 foaling season and blood lactate concentration was measured at admission and 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after admission. Blood lactate concentration changes over time were calculated between sampling points.

The results showed that non-surviving foals had significantly greater blood lactate concentration at admission and at 24 and 48 hours compared with surviving foals (P<0.001).

As a conclusion, the authors confirm that blood lactate concentration is a strong, independent biomarker used to predict mortality in critically ill foals. Lactate metabolism is impaired in nonsurviving and septic foals and blood lactate concentration changes over time can be utilised to identify patients at high risk for mortality.

This is an overview of the article written by A. Borchers, P. A. Wilkins, P. M. Marsh, J. E. Axon, J. Read, C. Castagnetti, L. Pantaleon, C. Clark, L. Qura’n, R. Belgrave, C. Schwarzwald, M. Levy, D. Bedenice, M. N. Saulez and R. C. Boston, which was published in 2013 in Equine Veterinary Journal, ISSN 0425-1644 DOI: 10.1111/evj.12165

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