The prevalence of endocrinopathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral equine hospital.
Abstract: Endocrinopathic causes of laminitis may be a common underlying causative pathogenesis in first-opinion or field cases presenting with laminitis, as opposed to laminitis produced in inflammatory research models. This study aimed to determine whether evidence of an underlying endocrinopathy was present in horses presented for laminitis to a first-opinion/referral veterinary teaching hospital. A second aim was to compare the signalment of horses and ponies with laminitis with the equine hospital population during the same period. All horses presenting for laminitis at Helsinki University Equine Teaching Hospital, Finland, over a 16-month period were examined for an underlying endocrinopathy. Horses presenting for laminitis were compared with the hospitalized population over the same period. There were 36 horses presented for laminitis, and evidence of endocrinopathy was present in 89%. Of the horses showing an underlying endocrinopathy, one-third had a diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and two-thirds showed basal hyperinsulinemia indicative of insulin resistance, without evidence of hirsutism. Phenotypic indicators of obesity were present in 95% of horses with basal hyperinsulinemia without hirsutism. Compared with the hospital population during the same period, horses with laminitis associated with an underlying endocrinopathy were significantly older and more likely to be pony breeds. Our data support that endocrine testing should be performed on all cases of laminitis that do not have a clear inflammatory or gastrointestinal origin.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-06-07 PubMed ID: 21696910DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2011.05.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses the significant occurrence of endocrinopathic laminitis in horses admitted for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral veterinary teaching hospital. The study explores the presence of underlying endocrine disorders, phenotypic indicators of obesity, and comparison of the affected horses’ age and breed to the general hospital population during the same period.
Objective of the Study
- The primary goal of the research was to discover if there was an underlying endocrinopathy, a disorder of the endocrine glands, in horses that were presented with laminitis to a first-opinion/referral vet teaching hospital.
- The secondary aim was to compare the characteristics, such as breed and age, of horses and ponies diagnosed with laminitis with the rest of the horse population in the hospital during an equivalent period.
Methodology
- All horses presented for laminitis at Helsinki University Equine Teaching Hospital, Finland, over a 16-month duration, were examined for potential underlying endocrine issues.
- The horses with laminitis were then contrasted with the other hospitalized population during the same period.
Findings of the Study
- Out of the 36 horses that presented with laminitis, 89% had evidence of an endocrine disorder.
- About one-third of those with an endocrine disorder were diagnosed with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, while two-thirds exhibited basal hyperinsulinemia, indicating insulin resistance, yet showed no signs of excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
- 95% of horses displaying basal hyperinsulinemia without hirsutism had phenotypic indicators of obesity.
- The research found that horses with laminitis due to an underlying endocrine disorder were significantly older and more likely to be of pony breeds compared to the hospital population during the same period.
Conclusion
- The results of this study suggest that endocrine testing should be conducted on all cases of laminitis that do not have a discernible inflammatory or gastrointestinal origin.
Cite This Article
APA
Karikoski NP, Horn I, McGowan TW, McGowan CM.
(2011).
The prevalence of endocrinopathic laminitis among horses presented for laminitis at a first-opinion/referral equine hospital.
Domest Anim Endocrinol, 41(3), 111-117.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2011.05.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. ninja.karikoski@helsinki.fi
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Foot Diseases / etiology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Hyperinsulinism / complications
- Hyperinsulinism / veterinary
- Inflammation / etiology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Insulin Resistance
- Male
- Pituitary Diseases / complications
- Pituitary Diseases / pathology
- Pituitary Diseases / veterinary
- Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / pathology
Citations
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