الفهرس 
Sepsis score sheet of neonatal foals
Study population in hospitalized, septic and SNS foalsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
Abstract
Hypovitaminosis D is a frequent finding in critically ill human patients that has been associated with hypocalcemia, disease severity and poor outcome. However, information on vitamin D metabolites and their association with hypocalcemia, severity of disease and mortality in critically ill foals remains undocumented. The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and determine its association with calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), FGF-23, klotho and aldosterone concentrations, severity of disease and mortality in critically ill foals. One hundred newborn foals ≤ 72 hours old divided into hospitalized (n=83; 59 septic, 24 sick non-septic [SNS]) and healthy (n=17) groups were included in the study. Blood samples were collected on admission to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], calcium, phosphorus, PTH, FGF-23, klotho and aldosterone concentrations. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods and univariate logistic regression to calculate odds of mortality. Serum 25(OH)D3, 1,25(OH)2D3 and klotho concentrations were significantly lower in septic and SNS compared to healthy foals (P < 0.05). Septic foals had significantly lower calcium and higher phosphorus and PTH concentrations than healthy and SNS foals (P < 0.05). Serum FGF-23 and aldosterone concentrations were significantly higher in septic foals compared to SNS and healthy ones (P < 0.001). Septic foals with 25(OH)D3 < 9.51 ng/mL and 1,25(OH)2D3 < 7.09 pmol/L were more likely to die (OR=3.62; OR=5.41, respectively). We conclude that the association of vitamin D metabolites with severity of disease and mortality in sick foals supports a role for vitamin D in the pathogenesis of equine neonatal disorders.