State of the art equine cardiac examination and research is performed by the EquineCardioTeam. The EquineCardioTeam was founded in 2001 by Prof. Dr Gunther van Loon . In 2009, Prof. Dr. Annelies Decloedt joined the team.

The Equine Cardioteam is worldwide one of the leading teams to perform cardiac research and treat horses with cardiovascular disease.

3D electro-anatomical cardiac mapping in an adult horse using Rhythmia (Boston Scientific). This advanced technique allows precise identification of the origin of an arrhythmia so that a targeted treatment by ablation can be performed.”

Atrial fibrillation

• Implanted pacemakers were used to study the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (Fig. 1)
• A new method, transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) (Fig. 2 + click for video

  

  ) was developed to treat atrial fibrillation.  During the procedure an electrical shock is delivered during general anaesthesia in order to restore normal cardiac rhythm immediately. Success rate is higher (95%) and complication rate lower compared to standard medical treatment.
• 
• New echocardiographic techniques, such as 2D speckle tracking and Tissue Doppler Imaging, and registration of an intracardiac electrogram are used to assess atrial fibrillation susceptibility and prognosis
• 2D speckle tracking (2D ST) and Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) are new ultrasonographic techniques for the quantification of atrial and ventricular myocardial function.
• A technique for cardiac electrical pacing in horses has been developed. This technique allows to stimulate the heart so that heart rate can be increased in case of bradycardia. The technique can be applied temporarily (temporary pacing) or permanently, by permanent implantation of a pacemaker. A technique for pacemaker implantation (Fig. 3 + click for video) in equines was developed and is readily available for clinical patients.
• Cardiac biomarkers: recent research has revealed new insights into the use of specific blood parameters for evaluation of cardiac function. Natriuretic peptides (ANP, proANP, NT-proANP, NT-proBNP,...) increase with cardiac dilatation and myocardial enzymes (cTn I, cTn T) increase with damage to the myocardium.
• intracardiac echography (ICE) is being used to obtain more detailed information of intracardiac structures

Publications:

• click here

PhD's on equine cardiology:

• Non-invasive determination of arterial wall stiffness for cardiovascular risk assessment in horses (Lisse Vera, 2020)

• Equine electrocardiography revisited: 12-lead recording, vectorcardiography and the power of machine intelligence (Glenn Van Steenkiste, 2020) 
• Quantification of equine aortic valve regurgitation by conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging and two-dimensional speckle tracking (Sofie Ven) (PDF-form, 3.6 MB)
• The pulmonary veins in pigs and horses: research towards development of a new treatment strategy of atrial fibrillation in human patients and horses (Tim Vandecasteele) (PDF-form)
• Diagnosis and treatment of atrial arrhythmias in horses (Barbara Broux, 2017) (PDF-form)
• The application of cardiac biomarkers as detectors for cardiac disease in horses (Nicky Van Der Vekens, 2015)(PDF-form, 2,8MB, 300 pages)
• Equine electrocardiography: exploration of new diagnostic strategies (Tinne Verheyen, 2012)(PDF-form, 4MB, 220 pages)
• Use of tissue Doppler imaging and two-dimensional speckle tracking for quantification of left ventricular function in horses (Annelies Decloedt, 2012) (PDF-form, 6,7MB, 237 pages)
• Pathophysiology and treatment of atrial fibrillation in horses (Dominique De Clercq, 2008)(PDF-form, 5,9MB, 236 pages)
• Atrial pacing and experimental atrial fibrillation in equines (Gunther van Loon, 2001)(PDF-form, 4,5MB, 258 pages)

Contactpersoon: Prof. Dr. Gunther van Loon