Validation of a low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test in healthy neonatal foals.
Abstract: To determine the lowest ACTH dose that would induce a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration and identify the time to peak cortisol concentration in healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Prospective randomized crossover study. Methods: 11 healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or 1 of 4 doses (0.02, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg [0.009, 0.045, 0.114, and 0.227 μg/lb]) of cosyntropin (synthetic ACTH) was administered IV. Serum cortisol concentrations were measured before and 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after administration of cosyntropin or saline solution; CBCs were performed before and 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after administration. Results: Serum cortisol concentration was significantly increased, compared with baseline, by 10 minutes after cosyntropin administration at doses of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg. Serum cortisol concentration peaked 20 minutes after administration of cosyntropin at doses of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.25 μg/kg, with peak concentrations 1.7, 2.0, and 1.9 times the baseline concentration, respectively. Serum cortisol concentration peaked 30 minutes after cosyntropin administration at a dose of 0.5 μg/kg, with peak concentration 2.2 times the baseline concentration. No significant differences were detected among peak serum cortisol concentrations obtained with cosyntropin administration at doses of 0.25 and 0.5 μg/kg. Cosyntropin administration significantly affected the lymphocyte count and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Conclusions: Results suggested that in healthy neonatal foals, the lowest dose of cosyntropin to result in significant adrenal gland stimulation was 0.25 μg/kg, with peak cortisol concentration 20 minutes after cosyntropin administration.
Publication Date: 2013-07-20 PubMed ID: 23865883DOI: 10.2460/javma.243.3.399Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research aims to find out the minimal amount of ACTH that can significantly increase the serum cortisol concentration, and the time frame in which the cortisol concentration peaks in health neonatal foals.
Study Overview and Methodology
- The study is a prospective randomised crossover study which involves the comprehensive scientific observation of 11 healthy neonatal foals.
- During the study, the foals were administered with a saline solution or doses (0.02, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg) of cosyntropin, a synthetic form of the hormone ACTH.
- Measurements of the serum cortisol concentration in the foals were then carried out before and several times (10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes) after administering either the cosyntropin or saline solution.
- The study also involved complete blood counts (CBCs) that were conducted before and several times (30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes) after the administration of the substances.
Study Results
- There was a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration about 10 minutes after cosyntropin administration at doses of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg.
- The cortisol concentration had a peak 20 minutes after cosyntropin administration at doses of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.25 μg/kg. The peak concentrations were 1.7, 2.0, and 1.9 times the baseline concentration, respectively.
- The peak cortisol concentration occurred 30 minutes after administration of cosyntropin at a dose of 0.5 μg/kg, which was 2.2 times the baseline concentration.
- No significant differences were observed in peak serum cortisol concentrations obtained with cosyntropin administration at doses of 0.25 and 0.5 μg/kg.
- The administration of cosyntropin led to significant changes in the lymphocyte count and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.
Conclusion
- This study highlighted that 0.25 μg/kg of cosyntropin was the lowest dose capable of inducing significant adrenal gland stimulation in healthy neonatal foals. The cortisol concentration reached its peak approximately 20 minutes after cosyntropin administration.
Cite This Article
APA
Stewart AJ, Wright JC, Behrend EN, Martin LG, Kemppainen RJ, Busch KA.
(2013).
Validation of a low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test in healthy neonatal foals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 243(3), 399-405.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.243.3.399 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. stewaaj@auburn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Addison Disease / blood
- Addison Disease / diagnosis
- Addison Disease / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cosyntropin / blood
- Cosyntropin / metabolism
- Cosyntropin / pharmacology
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Male
- Reproducibility of Results
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Stewart AJ, Hackett E, Bertin FR, Towns TJ. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2257-2266.
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