Quadrilateral suspensory and straight sesamoidean ligament calcifying desmopathy in an Arabian mare

Abstract

Summary 13A 5-year-old Arabian mare was referred for the investigation of recent behavioural change, generalised

Dystrophic mineralisation in degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis

“…The case report of Hui et al . () confirms and expands data obtained in our previous studies which demonstrated that DSLD occurs in several breeds, including Arabian horses and that the diagnosis has been supported by many veterinarians through histological examination of nuchal ligament biopsy samples (J. Halper, P.O.E. Mueller, unpublished data).…”

“…The pathology of endochondral ossification and abnormal collagen fibres described by Hui et al . in this issue () is similar to tendon changes of biglycan/fibromodulin‐deficient mice (Ameye et al . ).…”

“…The case of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) in an Arabian mare described by Hui et al . () appearing in this issue of Equine Veterinary Education highlights imaging and histopathological findings not previously recognised, or at least neglected, in horses with this disorder. Although originally described as occurring almost exclusively only in Peruvian Pasos, DSLD has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in other breeds, such as Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, Arabians, Tennessee walking and Hanoverians (Young ; Halper et al .…”

“…Another possibility is that the pathology observed by Hui et al . () is caused by a defect(s) in metabolism of other proteoglycans, e.g. of biglycan and/fibromodulin.…”

“…In summary, Hui et al . () present an interesting case of suspensory desmitis characterised by diffuse mineralisation and endochondral calcification of suspensory and sesamoidean ligaments. Since this report includes only one horse, we must assume that this mare suffered from a variant of DSLD rather than a separate disorder.…”