Aldosterone plasma concentration in horses with heart valve insufficiencies

Adrenocortical Insufficiency in Horses and Foals

“…Well-established commercial radio- or chemiluminescent immunoassays are readily available for measurement of equine cortisol and can provide results rapidly 6, 17. Commercial immunoassays are also available for most other adrenal corticosteroids, and measurement of aldosterone and adrenal androgens has been described in horses 18-20. However, cortisol and other adrenal steroids are typically secreted in a pulsatile fashion and plasma concentrations can vary widely during a 24-hour period in both healthy and sick individuals with time of day, season, emotional state, and moment-to-moment changes in physiologic stressors 5, 17.…”

Bacterial Endocarditis in Two Spanish Foals After Neonatal Septicemia

“…An activation of the RAAV axis has been demonstrated in heart problems in humans [14], dogs [35], and horses [15]. In humans, ALD has been found to be synthesized and secreted by the failing or hypertensive heart [14].…”

“…Furthermore, during deterioration of chronic heart insufficiencies in human patients, a significant increase in ALD concentrations was detected [35]. The study by Gehlen et al [15] demonstrated that horses with heart valve insufficiencies and dilation of the atrium and ventricle had significantly higher ALD concentrations than those without heart problems, or with heart problems but without atrium and ventricle dilation. We have previously shown that RAAV did not change with age during the first year of life in Spanish horses, but there were some differences between genders [17]; for this reason, the concentrations of these hormones in the two foals with endocarditis were compared with sexmatched controls.…”

“…The horses with mild heart valve insufficiencies, but without changes in heart size, had ALD concentrations within the confidence limits for healthy horses. On the contrary, the horses with enlargement of the heart presented with significantly higher ALD concentrations than the control group [15]. According to these results, the degree of activation of the RAAV axis could be a helpful biomarker in the assessment of equine cardiac disease and could be used as a guide to establish a prognosis.…”

“…Furthermore, there is a correlation between RAAV activity and the severity of the clinical signs of heart disease [14]. In horses, Gehlen et al [15] measured the concentrations of aldosterone (ALD) in 40 adult horses with heart valve insufficiencies. The horses with mild heart valve insufficiencies, but without changes in heart size, had ALD concentrations within the confidence limits for healthy horses.…”