FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
The Veterinary record2021; 189(1); e142; doi: 10.1002/vetr.142

Pergolide dosing compliance and factors affecting the laboratory control of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Abstract: Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is treated with daily pergolide therapy. Owner compliance and its effect on PPID control have not been previously investigated. Clinical records were searched to identify the sample of animals with PPID treated with pergolide from 2016 to 2019. The signalment was noted and the dose of pergolide received calculated. Animals were classified as compliant (receiving ≥90% of the veterinarian recommended dose of pergolide) or non-compliant, and as controlled (follow-up basal adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations within the reference range) or not. In total, 110 animals were included. The majority (85%) were ≥16 years (mean ± SD 19.8 ± 4.4 years); the most common breeds were Cob (18%), Thoroughbred (16%) and Welsh (15%); 37% were female and 63% male. Overall, 48% were compliant and 52% non-compliant. There was no significant effect of compliance on laboratory control. Of those that were compliant, 74% were controlled, while 67% of non-compliant animals were controlled. Univariable analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.001) effect of age and breed on compliance and control, and of sex on control. On multivariable analysis, only age (compliance) and breed (compliance and control) were retained in the final model. Only half of animals received the recommended pergolide dose; however, this did not affect laboratory control of PPID.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-03-23 PubMed ID: 33759215DOI: 10.1002/vetr.142Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research is about the impact of horse owners’ adherence to pergolide dosing recommendations for treating equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), and how this affects the disease’s laboratory control. It also analyzed the impact of factors such as age, breed, and sex on compliance and disease control.

Objective

  • This study aimed to examine the compliance of horse owners in administering pergolide, a medication used to treat equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses, and to identify the impact of this compliance on controlling the disease as determined by laboratory tests. The research also sought to explore the influence of different factors, such as breed, age, and sex, on both compliance and disease control.

Methods

  • The researchers scrutinized clinical records from 2016 to 2019 to find cases of PPID in horses treated with pergolide. Information about these horses, including their breed, sex, and age, was noted.
  • The dosage of pergolide each horse received was calculated. Horses were then classified into two groups: those receiving at least 90% of the veterinarian recommended dose of pergolide (compliant) and those receiving less (non-compliant).
  • Horses were also classified based on whether they had achieved control of PPID (if their follow-up adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations fell within the reference range) or not.

Results

  • 110 horses were included in the study. The majority (85%) were 16 years or older. The most common breeds were Cob (18%), Thoroughbred (16%), and Welsh (15%).
  • Approximately 48% of the horse owners were compliant with the recommended dosing of pergolide while 52% were not.
  • There was no significant impact of compliance on the laboratory control of PPID. Among the compliant group, 74% of horses achieved control of PPID, while 67% of the non -compliant group managed to control the disease.
  • Univariate analysis indicated a significant impact of the horse’s age and breed on both drug compliance and disease control and the horse’s sex on disease control.
  • When adjusted for various factors in a multivariable analysis, only age and breed remained as significant in affecting both compliance and control.

Conclusion

  • Although only half of horse owners comply with the recommended dosing for pergolide, this does not seem to affect the laboratory control of PPID. The effectivenes of dosage compliance did not significantly affect PPID control, as determined by laboratory tests. Breed and age significantly influenced both compliance and control of the disease, while the horse’s sex only significantly affected control.

Cite This Article

APA
Hague N, Durham AE, Menzies-Gow NJ. (2021). Pergolide dosing compliance and factors affecting the laboratory control of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Vet Rec, 189(1), e142. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.142

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 189
Issue: 1
Pages: e142

Researcher Affiliations

Hague, Natalie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, UK.
Durham, Andrew E
  • Liphook Equine Hospital, Liphook, Hampshire, UK.
Menzies-Gow, Nicola J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Laboratories
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data
  • Pergolide / administration & dosage
  • Pituitary Diseases / drug therapy
  • Pituitary Diseases / veterinary
  • Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Cramer JA, Roy A, Burrell A. Medication compliance and persistence: terminology and definitions.. Value Health 2008;11(1):44-7.
  2. Nieuwlaat R, Wilczynski N, Navarro T. Interventions for enhancing medication adherence.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;2014(11):CD000011.
  3. DiMatteo MR, Haskard KB, Williams SL. Health beliefs, disease severity, and patient adherence: a meta-analysis.. Med Care 2007;45(6):521-8.
  4. Adams VJ, Campbell JR, Waldner CL, Dowling PM, Shmon CL. Evaluation of client compliance with short-term administration of antimicrobials to dogs.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226(4):567-74.
  5. Barter LS, Maddison JE, Watson AD. Comparison of methods to assess dog owners’ therapeutic compliance.. Aust Vet J 1996;74(6):443-6.
  6. Barter LS, Watson AD, Maddison JE. Owner compliance with short term antimicrobial medication in dogs.. Aust Vet J 1996;74(4):277-80.
  7. Verker JM, van Stokrom M, Edenburg N. How can veterinarians optimize owner compliance with medication regimes?. Eur J Companion Anim Pract 2008;18:73-7.
  8. McFarlane D. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011;27(1):93-113.
  9. McGowan TW, Pinchbeck GP, McGowan CM. Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses.. Equine Vet J 2013;45(1):74-9.
  10. Glover CM, Miller LM, Dybdal NO, Lopez A, Duckett WM, McFarlane D. Extrapituitary and pituitary pathological findings in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: a retrospective study.. J Equine Vet Sci 2009;29:146-53.
  11. McFarlane D, Banse H, Knych HK, Maxwell LK. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of pergolide mesylate following long-term administration to horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2017;40(2):158-64.
  12. Rendle DI, Frost R, Byrne A. Efficacy of a novel palatable pergolide paste formulation for the treatment of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in ponies.. Equine Vet J 2018;50(S52):16.
  13. Adams AA, Siard MH, Reedy SE, Little JP, Grubbs S, Little MP. Does Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) Affect Immune Responses to Vaccination?. Paper presented at Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Equine Geriatric Workshop II and 3rd Equine Endocrine Summit; 17-20 November 2014; Middleburg, VA.
  14. Donaldson MT, LaMonte BH, Morresey P, Smith G, Beech J. Treatment with pergolide or cyproheptadine of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing's disease).. J Vet Intern Med 2002;16(6):742-6.
  15. Frank N, Geor R. Current best practice in clinical management of equine endocrine patients.. Equine Vet Educ 2014;26(1): 6-9.
  16. Copas VE, Durham AE. Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. Equine Vet J 2012;44(4):440-3.
  17. Rendle DI, Taylor E, Duz M, Parkin TD, Copas VEN, Durham AE. Effects of pergolide mesylate on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. Equine Vet J 2013;45(S44):19.
  18. Perkins GA, Lamb S, Erb HN, Schanbacher B, Nydam DV, Divers TJ. Plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentrations and clinical response in horses treated for equine Cushing's disease with cyproheptadine or pergolide.. Equine Vet J 2002;34(7):679-85.
  19. Durham AE. Therapeutics for Equine Endocrine Disorders.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2017;33(1):127-39.
  20. Ireland JL, McGowan CM. Epidemiology of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: a systematic literature review of clinical presentation, disease prevalence and risk factors.. Vet J 2018;235:22-33.
  21. Durham AE, Shreeve H. Horse factors influencing the seasonal increase in plasma ACTH secretion. Paper presented at: Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Equine Endocrinology Summit; 2017; Miami, FL. https://sites.tufts.edu/equineendogroup/files/2017/01/2017-Equine-Endocrinology-Summit-D-Russell-Havemeyer-Foundation.pdf
  22. Simoes J, Sales Luis JP, Tilley P. Owner compliance to an environmental management protocol for severe equine asthma syndrome.. J Equine Vet Sci 2020;87:102937.
  23. Mellor DJ, Love S, Walker R, Gettinby G, Reid SW. Sentinel practice-based survey of the management and health of horses in northern Britain.. Vet Rec 2001;149(14):417-23.
  24. McGowan TW, Pinchbeck G, Phillips CJ, Perkins N, Hodgson DR, McGowan CM. A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 1: management and preventive health care.. Aust Vet J 2010;88(11):420-7.
  25. Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, McKane SA, Pinchbeck GL. A cross-sectional study of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Part 2: health care and disease.. Equine Vet J 2011;43(1):37-44.
  26. Ireland JL, McGowan CM, Clegg PD, Chandler KJ, Pinchbeck GL. A survey of health care and disease in geriatric horses aged 30 years or older.. Vet J 2012;192(1):57-64.
  27. MacKay C Client compliance - The key to successful veterinary practice. Presented at 30th Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association; 11-14 May 2005; Mexico City, Mexico.
  28. Rendle DI, Doran G, Ireland J, Edwards S. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pergolide mesylate after oral administration in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2019;68:135-41.
  29. Rendle DI, Duz M, Beech J, Parkin T, Durham AE. Investigation of single and paired measurements of adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2015;29(1):355-61.
  30. Knowles EJ, Moreton-Clack MC, Shaw S, Harris PA, Elliott J, Menzies-Gow NJ. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations in ponies measured by two different assays suggests seasonal cross-reactivity or interference.. Equine Vet J 2018;50(5):672-7.

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Parmantier S, Kyriazopoulou P, McClendon M, Adams A, Murphy BA. Influence of Extended Photoperiod Using Blue Light Masks on Hypertrichosis, Coat Condition and General Health Parameters in Horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 5;15(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15192905pubmed: 41096500google scholar: lookup
  2. Schott HC 2nd, Strachota JR, Marteniuk JV, Refsal KR. Long-Term Response of Equids With Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction to Treatment With Pergolide. J Vet Intern Med 2025 May-Jun;39(3):e70109.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70109pubmed: 40317948google scholar: lookup
  3. Bouquet A, Nicol C, Knowles EJ, Schofield I, Menzies-Gow NJ. Development of a health-related quality-of-life assessment tool for equines with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):190-202.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14513pubmed: 40314080google scholar: lookup
  4. Sundra T, Kelty E, Rossi G, Rendle D. Retrospective assessment of the use of extended-release cabergoline in the management of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332337.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332337pubmed: 38511195google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.