Prevalence, risk factors and clinical signs predictive for equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in aged horses

Abstract

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction occurs commonly in aged horses despite under-recognition by owners. The increased risk of PPID with age supports that this is an ageing associated condition. Aged horses with clinical or historical signs consistent with PPID, especially owner-reported hirsutism (delayed shedding and/or long hair coat), should be tested and appropriate treatment instituted.

Neutrophil function in healthy aged horses and horses with pituitary dysfunction

“…Approximately 30% of horses with PPID also have hyperinsulinemia, due to an unknown mechanism (McGowan et al, 2013). A similar proportion of PPID horses (31%) were also hyperinsulinemic in the present study.…”

What’s New in Old Horses? Postmortem Diagnoses in Mature and Aged Equids

“…However, in recent studies, only 32% of horses with PPID were hyperinsulinemic, and only 23% were insulin resistant, suggesting that PPID and equine metabolic syndrome are distinct diseases and that the pathogenesis of laminitis might also differ. 20,27 Hoof lesions other than laminitis, such as hoof abscesses and hoof deformities, are also reported in horses with PPID. 24,35,45 The development of hoof abscesses (or other infections in PPID) could be the result of immune system dysregulation.…”

Nutritional Management of the Older Horse

“…40 Although the onset of PPID is often unnoticed and difficult to determine, 11 studies of referral hospital Argo and primary care cases indicated that the typical age of owner recognition of clinically apparent PPID was between 19 and 21 years of age for referral cases 41-47 compared with field-based epidemiologic studies, where a younger age of detection of 15 years and older was found. 40 The difference between the age of presentation is largely due to owner underrecognition of clinical signs of PPID, which in the past have been attributed to age-related senescence.…”