Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein therapy or IRAP™ therapy is one of the newest and most exciting cutting edge technologies for the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses. It is a substance extracted from the horses own blood injected into the affected joint. It is believed to block the excessive production of synovial fluid containing a protein called interleukin-1, which plays an important role in inflammation, destruction of cartilage and consequently pain. IRAP™ acts directly at the origin of the problem being more likely to provide long term effects. Also because the serum sample is derived from the horse’s own blood, it carries minimal risk of adverse reaction and does not have negative cartilage damaging effects as steroids.

During the IRAP™ process, 50 mL of blood is harvested from the horse using a special patented syringe containing glass beads. The harvested blood is incubated for 24 hours to increase anti-inflammatory and regenerative protein concentration levels. After incubation, the syringe is placed into a centrifuge to separate the serum from the blood. The serum is extracted and may be placed into syringes or ampoules for immediate use or frozen for later use.

The amount of IRAP™ used depends on the targeted joint, but typically amounts injected range from as little as two to eight ml. The duration of treatment also varies but in most cases, two to three treatments are given eight to 14 days apart. IRAP™ can be used in joints that no longer respond to traditional joint injections or as a first line of treatment, which may prevent or postpone the need for future intra-articular injections, by stopping the damage before it becomes chronic.

Northwest Equine Veterinary Associates have been treating horses with IRAP™ for several years now with exciting results. Please contact us if you believe your horse may benefit from IRAP™ therapy.

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