Diagnostic Testing for Equine Endocrine Diseases: Confirmation Versus Confusion

Dianne McFarlane

doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.005

Diagnostic Testing for Equine Endocrine Diseases: Confirmation Versus Confusion

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2019 Aug;35(2):327-338. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 May 7.

Author

Dianne McFarlane¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 264 McElroy Hall, CVHS-OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. Electronic address: diannem@okstate.edu.

PMID: 31076223
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.005

Abstract

Despite there being only 2 common endocrine diseases in horses, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), diagnosis is still confusing. Failing to consider horse factors and treating based on laboratory results only have caused many animals to receive lifelong drug treatment unnecessarily. Increased plasma ACTH, baseline or TRH stimulated, supports a diagnosis of PPID; however, breed, age, thriftiness, illness, coat color, geography, diet, and season also affect ACTH concentration. Insulin dysregulation, the hallmark of EMS, can result from insulin resistance or excessive postprandial insulin release. Each requires a different diagnostic test to reach a diagnosis.

Keywords: ACTH; Equine metabolic syndrome; Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction; Insulin.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / veterinary
Endocrine System Diseases / diagnosis
Endocrine System Diseases / veterinary*
Horse Diseases / diagnosis*
Horses