Italian researchers have devised a novel technique for evaluating osteoarthritis in performance horses via measurement of metabolic products in synovial fluid. They do this by using a specialized imaging technique for liquids known as proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or ¹H NMR.

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating, painful, degenerative disease with no known cure. The key to successfully managing horses with osteoarthritis is to make an early diagnosis.

"Despite aggressive research efforts, there is no good test or technique that allows veterinarians to obtain an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis in horses," explained Luca Lacitignola, DVM, PhD, aggregate professor in the Unit of Veterinary Surgery at the University of Teramo in Italy.

¹H NMR can rapidly, accurately, and repeatedly evaluate the nature and constituents of various biological fluids with only a very small margin of error