Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Phenotypic, hormonal, and clinical characteristics of equine endocrinopathic laminitis.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- de Laat, Melody A et al.
- Affiliation:
- School of Earth · Australia
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at a common condition in horses and ponies called equine endocrinopathic laminitis, which can happen due to issues like equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Researchers gathered information from 301 horses and ponies diagnosed with laminitis to better understand the disease's characteristics and improve how veterinarians assess risk and manage it. They found that horses and ponies with both EMS and PPID had higher insulin levels, which were linked to more severe lameness. Overall, the study highlights that horses and ponies with these hormonal issues tend to have more serious symptoms.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Equine endocrinopathic laminitis is common and can be associated with an underlying endocrinopathy, such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), pasture consumption, or any combination of these factors. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to improve the risk assessment capabilities of clinicians, and to inform management strategies, for acute endocrinopathic laminitis by prospectively examining the phenotypic, hormonal, and clinical characteristics of the disease in a large cohort. ANIMALS: Privately owned horses and ponies (n = 301) of any age, sex, or breed diagnosed with laminitis by a veterinarian. A history of laminitis was acceptable. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Veterinarians provided information on each case via an online questionnaire after informed consent from the animal's owner, and all data were de-identified before analysis. Serum insulin and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations were measured in each case. RESULTS: Most cases were recruited in spring (109/301; 36.2%). Concurrent EMS and PPID resulted in higher basal insulin concentrations (49 [21.5-141]; P < .02) than if an animal had a single underlying cause for their laminitis. The insulin concentration was negatively correlated (r = -0.38; P < .001) with the animal's height, being higher in ponies (33[10-14]; P < .001) than horses (9.5 [3-25.7]) and was positively correlated (r = 0.12; P = .05) with their grade (severity) of laminitis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Horses and ponies with concurrent endocrinopathies have more marked hyperinsulinemia. Higher basal insulin concentrations were associated with more severe lameness.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30697823/