Journal of veterinary internal medicine2007; 21(4); 791-796; doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[791:pacacr]2.0.co;2

Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin/cortisol ratios in septic and normal-term foals.

Abstract: Little information exists on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in septic foals. Objective: The plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol are expected to be higher in septic foals as compared to normal foals. The concentrations of hormones in septic foals also are expected to differ further depending upon survival. Methods: Twenty-eight control foals and 46 septic foals 11 or a positive blood culture. The control foals were age matched to the septic foals in the study. ACTH and cortisol concentrations were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay system. Results: Cortisol concentrations in control foals did not vary with age. Septic foals had significantly higher mean ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratios than did normal foals. Within the septic foal group, 28 foals survived to discharge, and 18 were euthanized or died. The mean age was not significantly different between the septic surviving and nonsurviving foals. The mean ACTH/cortisol ratio was significantly higher in the septic nonsurviving foals as compared to the septic surviving foals. Conclusions: Septic foals had higher hormone concentrations as compared to normal foals, which is an expected endocrine response to critical illness. The increased ACTH/cortisol ratio in nonsurviving septic foals in comparison to surviving septic foals could indicate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction at the level of the adrenal gland in critically ill septic foals.
Publication Date: 2007-08-22 PubMed ID: 17708401DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[791:pacacr]2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research study focuses on hormonal alterations in septic foals (young horses), specifically the levels of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol. The findings suggest these hormones are significantly higher in septic foals compared to their healthier counterparts, and may serve as an indicator of disease severity and survival outcomes.

Objective and Expectation

  • The paper studied the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis— a major neuroendocrine system — in septic (infectiously ill) foals, an area that hasn’t been extensively explored.
  • The researchers anticipated that levels of ACTH and cortisol (hormones produced in response to stress) would be higher in the blood of septic foals compared to normal ones, and these concentrations could vary depending on whether the septic foals survived or not.

Methods

  • The study sample included 28 normal foals (control group) and 46 septic foals, all less than two weeks old.
  • Blood samples were collected from these groups, from both university research herds and from septic foals admitted to tertiary care centers.
  • Sepsis was determined by a sepsis score of over 11 or a positive blood culture result.
  • The hormone concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were measured through a chemiluminescent immunoassay system, a technique that uses the reaction of an immune system and its antigens to generate light and quantify the concentrations of these hormones in the blood.

Results

  • In the control group, cortisol concentrations didn’t fluctuate with age.
  • Septic foals, in contrast, exhibited significantly higher mean ACTH, cortisol, and ACTH/cortisol ratios compared to the control group.
  • Within the septic group, survival rates didn’t vary with age. However, nonsurviving septic foals had significantly higher ACTH/cortisol ratios, suggesting a potential link between this ratio and foal survival outcomes.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that septic foals demonstrated higher hormone concentrations than normal ones, which align with the expected endocrine response to a critical illness.
  • The higher ACTH/cortisol ratio in nonsurviving septic foals might suggest dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with the deficit potentially residing in the adrenal gland. As such, this ratio could serve as an indicator of disease severity and prognosis in critically ill septic foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Gold JR, Divers TJ, Barton MH, Lamb SV, Place NJ, Mohammed HO, Bain FT. (2007). Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin/cortisol ratios in septic and normal-term foals. J Vet Intern Med, 21(4), 791-796. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[791:pacacr]2.0.co;2

Publication

ISSN: 0891-6640
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Pages: 791-796

Researcher Affiliations

Gold, J R
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. bemc@bendequine.com
Divers, T J
    Barton, M H
      Lamb, S V
        Place, N J
          Mohammed, H O
            Bain, F T

              MeSH Terms

              • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
              • Animals
              • Animals, Newborn
              • Horse Diseases / blood
              • Horses
              • Hydrocortisone / blood
              • Sepsis / blood
              • Sepsis / veterinary

              Citations

              This article has been cited 16 times.
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