Concurrent measurement of serum and radiomic biomarkers in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries: A prospective pilot study

The prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and their related welfare and economic impacts represent an immediate priority for the horse racing industry. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate a method to quantitatively analyze scintigraphic features of specific anatomical regions of the horse’s appendicular skeleton in combination with secondary measures of musculoskeletal metabolism in blood. Twelve horses referred for scintigraphic assessment of lameness were enrolled. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to the administration of radiotracer. Serum concentrations associated with bone turnover were determined for the following biomarkers: C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, proteoglycans and sulfated glycosaminoglycans, collagen
type II, osteocalcin, and procollagen II C-terminal propeptide. Scintigraphic images underwent radiomic analysis of discrete regions of the distal limbs and these data were correlated to bone turnover markers. Three lame horses demonstrated asymmetrical radiomic abnormalities. The concentration of osteocalcin in the lame horses was significantly higher when compared to the control group, while no significant changes were observed for the other screened serum biomarkers. Findings from the current study provided evidence that radiomic analysis of equine scintigraphy is feasible. This method has the potential to interrogate which serum markers are associated with musculoskeletal injuries.