Markers of bone turnover, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and magnesium concentrations in horses with acute colitis.

Severe hypocalcemia with elevated PTH predicts mortality in equine colitis, suggesting PTH resistance.

This study investigated bone turnover markers and mineral metabolism in 127 horses with acute colitis compared to 36 healthy controls. Colitic horses demonstrated significantly elevated serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, with decreased osteocalcin, total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels. In hypocalcemic colitis cases, CTX-I positively correlated with PTH, indicating compensatory bone resorption. Critical findings revealed that colitis horses with ionized calcium <1.4 mmol/L and PTH >92.9 pg/mL had significantly increased mortality risk (OR 6.1 and 3.6, respectively). The results suggest that hypocalcemia in equine colitis involves inadequate bone resorption response despite elevated PTH, potentially indicating PTH resistance. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring calcium and PTH concentrations as prognostic indicators in colitic horses and suggest that mineral disturbances may contribute to adverse outcomes.

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