Does Plasma ACE Level Accurately Reflect the Occurrence of Exercise-induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage?

Introduction: Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is a highly prevalent airway disorder responsible for poor- performance in horses. While various methodologies are available for diagnosing EIPH, no readily available systemic biomarker has to date been definitively validated. A recent study demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in plasma was increased in horses with higher degrees of haemorrhage, as assessed by post exercise tracheal endoscopy. 

Aims: To investigate plasma ACE activity in horses suffering previous episodes of EIPH and controls. 

Methods: Venous blood samples were collected at rest from 121 client-owned, racing or race-fit Standardbred racehorses. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from right and left lung, cytocentrifuged and stained with Perl’s Prussian blue. [...]